10 DROID Apps for Blackberry Converts

by Antonio Wells Dec 17, 2009 6:00 AM – 18 Comments

Besides iPhone users, one of the toughest audiences to reel into Android’s sticky fingers are Blackberry users. The addicting nature, enterprise applications and revolutionary standard on email and security is what separates Blackberry from the rest. After reading Al Sacco’s “Google Phone: Why I Could Care Less…For Now” article from Computerworld, I though I would compile a list of Android Apps that make Blackberry users who converted, debating, or will convert feel cozy again.

Email

Exchange for TouchDown is the leader in Microsoft Exchange email integration for Android phones. Get the same push email you’ve been accustomed to. The app also supports Remote Wipe of exchange information on the device if your phone is stolen.

Not on Exchange and just want to sync your Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar with Android phone? No worries, we wrote a guide how to achieve this.

Documents

Documents To Go offers the ability to open and edit Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF documents while mobile.

Voice Mail

Google Voice offers not only Visual Voice mail, but a service suite unparalleled. Get a Google Voice phone number that it truly tied to you, manage what phones it rings, receive transcribed voicemails to read later, listen on your Android phone or online. You can manage contacts, send and receive SMS text messages, filter/block calls, and make low cost International calls.

Phone Calls

Ever been busy in a meeting or on the other line, a call comes through and you want to quickly tell the person you’ll call them back? Well PhonePlus Callback allows you to do this without picking up the phone. It sends a predefined SMS text message or email with notification reminders for you to call them back.

Maps & Navigation

Google Maps Navigation gives the power of their Google Maps applications for on the road with real time audible turn-by-turn directions. They go a step further by integrating StreetView of the navigated area if applicable. Also automatic re-routing, search businesses nearby and speak your destination with Voice Search.

News Readers

There are many news apps branded specifically by the media outlet (like USA Today) but one of the best ways to stay updated in our own way it via RSS Readers. FeedR News Reader accomplishes that, grab feeds from news or blog sources, and manage read and unread feeds.

Weather

Get accurate forecasts with WeatherBug among many choices.

Location Based Services

Here a few Blackberry users probably was not traditionally accustomed to but all the rave on Android… Location Based Services! Aloqa is a location based service Android app that find points of interests near you versus you finding what’s near you.

Facebook

Facebook for Android™ just got a nice update and keeps you socially in touch with your Facebook friends. View friends pics, Comment, Write on Walls, Upload pics & Vids, plus the app is really fast!

Twitter

Need to connect with your Tweeps? Use Swift App for Twitter or have multiple Twitter accounts? Try I Tweet!

Bah Humbug! to those claiming Android doesn’t have high quality apps!!!

Tags: Blackberry, Blackberry Convert, Blackberry Users, Documents To Go, Droid Apps, Email, Google Maps, Location Based, Microsoft Exchange, RSS Reader, SMS Text Messages, Visual Voice Mail, Voice Search, Weather Forecasts

Categorised in: Apps Blog

18 Comments

By s-one on December 17, 2009 at 3:00 pm:

And don’t forget this free Calendar Widget (CalWidget) which displays your events on the homescreen like the Blackberry’s Today theme.

http://www.androlib.com/android.application.net-eggenstein-android-calwidget-qxjt.aspx

Reply
By April on December 20, 2009 at 8:43 pm:

Although the calendars that you can find on blackberry are way better than android calendars. Such as pocket informant. Ready to sell my G1 because I can not find a good android calendar.

Reply
- By hillary on January 3, 2010 at 7:21 am:
  
  I’m getting either a droid or blackberry tour for my bday. I’m so torn. My husband keeps tell me that the droid can do so much more and is much better for surfing the web. But the calendar is really important to me. What did you mean by the blackberry calendar being better? While playing in the Verizon store, I didn’t experience that. please help.
  
  Reply
  - By April on January 3, 2010 at 9:54 am:
    
    While I had my blackberry, I used pocket informant. Everything was color coded, and it was GREAT! I have gotten use to my android phone now. I haven’t found a calendar that I love, but I found one that will do, until (hopefully) pocket informant is compatible with my g1. The calendar I use on my g1 is called calendar pad, and it is free. I have paid for a few, and I really didn’t like them. Overall, the Calendar is the only thing I have found that I miss…and I am getting use to this one. My g1 is way faster than the blackberry online and it has lots of free apps. I hope this helps you in your decision.
    
    Reply
    - By Phil on January 3, 2010 at 10:35 pm:
      
      I live by my google calendar and love the seamless integration my motorola droid offers. It is not as pretty as pocket informants version but it works great.
      My wife has a storm and I picked it up yesterday to see what apps it had available in their app market, I was surprised. I found almost nothing of value there. The android marketplace on the other hand seems to have so much to offer.
      Browsing the web is not even comparable between the storm and Droid, Droid wins hands down.
      Good luck with your decision.
      
      Reply
By Raymond Carney on December 21, 2009 at 7:32 pm:

I love my Motorola Droid, but today Slingbox mobile told me to exchange my Droid and buy either a Black berry or an iphone because Google was not yet compatible. Someone please launch an Android application for slingbox mobile and flash. How can Droid compete in entertainment without real TV or radio?

Reply
By Adam on December 22, 2009 at 10:57 pm:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I just assumed the Droid would work with the Slingbox, and I just got my Droid yesterday and am otherwise loving it. CRAP!

Reply
- By David on January 18, 2010 at 5:57 pm:
  
  My understanding is it should be available within the next 6 months. Flash will be supported on Droid’s next update.
  
  Reply
  - By Linda on July 21, 2010 at 10:36 pm:
    
    Available within next 6 months with next Droid…..does that mean currently selling droid x will be able to support flash, or does it mean I’d have to buy a new droid? Thinking of buying droid x tomorrow.
    
    Reply
    - By Antonio Wells on July 22, 2010 at 6:17 am:
      
      At this time none of the phones in the Droid family support flash, however the original Motorola Droid and Droid X are rumored to get the update within the next few weeks.
      
      Reply
By Ashley Yasko on May 23, 2010 at 8:48 am:

HA! Howdy,I’m a long-time reader and also was too shy to create a comment.

Reply
By Linda on July 22, 2010 at 9:49 pm:

I’m concerned about quality of reception. I currently have a BB curve. I usually hear/understand people well but too often my voice is a bit distorted or difficult to understand. Verizon is the best carrier by far for the area where i live. What can I expect from the Droid x?

Reply
- By Seth on August 9, 2010 at 12:14 pm:
  
  I currently have the droid x and it has by far the best audio quality of any phone i have ever had. It has 3 mics and they really do a great job with noise cancellation. The droid x is one of if not the best smarphone available right now, i’d say go for it!
  
  Reply
  - By AMY on September 14, 2010 at 9:23 am:
    
    I just upgraded from my old bb curve to the droid 2 and the internet stuff is great but I’m hating the email- any advise???
    
    I don’t like that I can’t save emails, can’t see where I can set up any folders to move the important emails into. I get a lot of emails and some need to be kept for a long time but I don’t want them in my regular box with a “flag” where I have to scroll all the way back through and find them, it sucks!!!!!
    
    Reply
    - By Antonio Wells on September 14, 2010 at 10:01 am:
      
      Question, are you using the “Email” app or “Gmail” app for email?
      
      Reply
By Jordan Damis on October 16, 2010 at 9:37 pm:

This is a great site you have! Great job!

Reply
By Carla Rae Caswell on March 15, 2011 at 1:56 pm:

My husband and I both have the new Droid x and we love them, prior we were a die hard blackberry team. The only complaint with the Verizon Droid’s is the terrible delay between talk time (ie from when he says something till I hear it and the same when I talk. Does anybody else have this problem and if so have you been able to get fixed. Our local people are worthless. The Tech support has been very helpful, but it still is accurring and it just make my husband more then a little angry

Reply
By Bill Edwards on October 21, 2012 at 9:29 am:

I have recently had a Samsung Galaxy S3 4G given to me by my Carrier, I’m a long term Palm and Blackberry user and love my Blackberry 9700, it’s calendar functionality and it’s no nonsense operational functionality.

After 1.5 weeks Android experience (Not much I know) plus a couple of sessions with business acquaintances trying to convince me I should go with iPhone my personal opinion is;

Galaxy & iPhone both look pretty, do nice tricks, have access to lots of frivolous APPS but really struggle to be as useful a business tool to me as a Blackberry with it’s easy one handed operation, downside to the Blackberry is screen size for my ‘old’ eyes.

Reply