CTIA: BlackBerry Gets All Sorts Of Love From Google And TiVo

If you're a BlackBerry user, prepare to let the good times roll. A host of new software and service offerings were made available to the BlackBerry platform this week, including a brand-new Google application and wireless access to your TiVo DVR.Today, Google unveiled its brand new suite of services for the BlackBerry platform. Using the new Google application, BlackBerry users will have faster search and easier access to Maps, Gmail, News, and more from Google.

For starters, the new Google App will allow you to start performing searches without having to load the browser first. Open the app, enter your search, and away you go. The app will also let you access your search history, so you don't have to re-perform searches that you know you've already done. It also includes the Google Suggest feature that was recently announced. Google Suggest completes search queries with less typing.

What's especially nice that it is including support for Google Apps. You can get direct links to your Google Apps Calendar and Documents/Spreadsheets from your BlackBerry. Google doesn't not specify how much functionality you'll have beyond being able to open and view Docs and Spreadsheets, though.

Lastly, the software will automatically alert users to let them know when new versions of it are available.

That's what's being offered up by Google. Now for TiVo.

If you're a user of TiVos, you how much it stinks to forget to program the TiVo to record the Big Game or season premiere of The Office. TiVo has already partnered with other firms to allow for mobile access, but now it's BlackBerry's turn for some hot, remote TiVo action.

"TiVo subscribers will soon be able to wirelessly control their TiVo DVRs using a BlackBerry smartphone -- anytime, anywhere -- and that is a powerful example of how our respective technologies can complement each other to serve our mutual customers," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO of Research In Motion. "As the BlackBerry smartphone continues its evolution as a modern lifestyle device, the importance of home entertainment integration will continue to grow and TiVo will be the key in providing consumers with greater flexibility in accessing television content."

Initially, BlackBerry smartphone users will gain the convenience of being able to discover what shows are on and schedule television recordings while away from the living room and on the go. Future collaboration between the companies will focus on software applications that further simplify mobile access to video content.

The remote access software will be available later this year.