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RIM Blackberry Mobile Feed Reader - seeking beta testers

Hello there - we are nearing the release of the FeedBurner Mobile Feed Reader Version 2, which we provide as a service to help publishers get their RSS/Atom content out via mobile channels - and in addition to the Symbian/Java/Palm OS platforms we deployed Version 1 upon, we will be adding a couple new platforms: BREW and RIM Blackberry.

We're soliciting help testing our Blackberry versions since the implementations vary greatly from network operator to network operator, and inside and outside the enterprise. If you provide helpful feedback we'll provide you with a free license for the application when the general release is available.

The FeedBurner service plays an important part in making this app work on the Blackberry:

First, FeedBurner SmartFeed™ technology allows us to easily normalize any of the nine flavors of RSS and Atom into a common format so that the mobile client can stay thin and fast; dealing with all those versions on the client is much too cumbersome.

Second, many of the Blackberry and WAP gateways installed at carriers and enterprises don't allow the content types we normally see associated with RSS and Atom files to be passed to the device, which would normally cause feeds generated from many common publishing tools to be incompatible with the Blackberry service. Again, SmartFeed technology comes to the rescue and automatically makes RSS and Atom files compatible with the carrier gateways.

If you have a Blackberry that you purchased directly from T-Mobile, Cingular, AT&T Wireless, Rogers Canada, or another GSM provider, and feel like testing the mobile feed reader, enter the following URL in your browser (if your IT department gave you a BlackBerry, keep reading to the bottom):

http://www.feedburner.com/fb/products/rim/FeedBurnerMFR2.jad

and select "install" from the menu. The BlackBerry should then download the MFR, and notify you upon success. The FeedBurner icon should appear in your ribbon in the first postion. If you wish to move it, hold down the [alt] key and push in the scroll wheel, and select "Move Icon." Betcha didn't know that was there.

Now for the important part - setting your network preferences. Because of security features built into the BlackBerry OS as well as the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, you must enter your WAP gateway preferences.

To do this, push in the scroll wheel, and select "Network". You should see the network settings screen. If you see your carrier, select it. If you are in the UK or Australia, and want to try your GSM carrier, select "Other" and enter the Access Point, WAP Gateway IP, and WAP Gateway port you would normally use with a GSM phone on your carrier's network.

If you are using a BlackBerry 6750/7750 you puchased directly from Verizon Wireless you need to have a 3rd party WAP gateway service such as MobileWeb4U and install the .alx and .cod files via your BlackBerry Desktop "Application Loader" application.

If you are using a Nextel 6510/7510 and wish to try the MFR, select "BlackBerry Enterprise" - there will be a Nextel option in a future version. The same goes for 7510 on Telus in Canada - select "BlackBerry Enterprise".

Finally, if your IT department gave you a BlackBerry (specifically if your company operates its own BlackBerry Enterprise Server with Mobile Data Service (MDS) ), you can still likely use this application, just choose "BlackBerry Enterprise."

There are a few known issues with the app, and the user interface will go through a BlackBerry overhaul -- but all feedback is welcome.

We're going through this beta cycle to catch all the different network configurations that are possible and make the service as seamless as possible - so if something works or doesn't work please email wirelesssupport AT feedburner DOT com and let us know.