by Alex Kelley

Created on: July 05, 2009

You have a smart phone and you want to make the best of it. With a bit of research, your phone can help you with your daily activities as well as with relaxation.

Some devices (the iPhone, for instance) have a library of free applications available. Others - like the more commonly encountered BlackBerry - do not specifically direct you to a unique location for apps. However, quite a number of apps that you can download for free can provide surprisingly good results. Here's a list of some of the most useful ones for the BlackBerry smart phones. (For best results, search for this article on your device, then use the links provided.)

1. Maps and directions

If you don't want to pay for GPS, GoogleMaps is one of the best free alternatives available. It also has a nice my location option, which places the spot in which you are on a map. You can get step-by-step directions from one point to another for driving, walking, or public transit (where available). Beyond411 is a similar service; it offers enhanced searches for businesses and directions.

2. Music

Pandora, a free and customizable radio station is now available on the BlackBerry devices. You can download the application, sign in with your credentials, then listen to your favorite music while you're on the move.

3. Books

You want to read a good book and don't have one around. Download Wattpad on your mobile device and browse some of the free books there. Although some genres and authors are better represented than others, you can give it a try and be pleasantly surprised.

4. News

Viigo is highly recommended for news feeds. It can be customized to provide various types of alerts, from finance highlights to weather updates.

5. Weather

BBWeather can be useful in determining current conditions in your area. It will list temperatures, as well as weather alerts.

6. E-mail and chat

If you're a fan of all-Google, then you'll want to keep in touch with people on your chat list. No worries, your social life won't have anything to suffer just because you're on the go. You can easily download and install both Gmail and Gtalk for your e-mail and on-line chat on a BlackBerry device.

7. Social networking

Facebook is another app available on a mobile device, although the navigation through all the features on the website can be difficult on that smaller screen. Finally, TwitterBerry is a mobile client that allows users to post updates to Twitter through the data connection (instead of text messages that may increase your phone bill).

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