Several security experts think that because of the increasing number of smartphone users as well as the comparative ease of spreading viruses across these platforms, that smartphone security will be tested this year.

Attacks on smartphones haven't reached the critical mass needed but it will happen sooner rather than later," antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab CEO Eugene Kaspersky, tells Red Herring.

"Mobile phone attacks scale very well for fraud," Internet Security Systems chief technology officer Chris Rouland also tells the publication.

"Phone viruses are propagating quickly and they have only been gated by the fact that there are not enough smartphone users today," he told the magazine. 

Rouland added that because phone carriers would likely have to bear the $100-per-incident cost of cleaning infected handhelds, only a few hundred infected phones are enough to cause a problem. 

Yet network security executive Simon Klalaf disagrees. The Vernier Networks CEO tells Red Herring that the financial incentives that spur malware writers to develop viruses are not there for smartphones.

"Putting a worm on laptops where the objective is to steal financial or personal data is a bigger problem for everyone," he tells Red Herring.

BlackBerry-enthusiast site BlackBerry Cool had these first, but I ain't above spreadin' the link love about GUI eye candy.

Like these pretty BlackBerry 7100 themes from Keith.

Keith didn't design these themes, but he is making them available for free. These theme screens aren't downloadable individually, but they can be downloaded as a grouped Zip file.

I like them is what I think.

What do you think?

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion and 3.4 million subscriber mobilkom Austria today launched the BlackBerry 8700v in that nation.  

The 8700v joins the BlackBerry 7100v and BlackBerry 7290 in the lineup of Austria's largest mobile carrier.

"Austrian customers can purchase the new BlackBerry 8700v and benefit from mobilkom austria's fast network to experience the full capabilities of this new device," Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter, CMO, mobilkom austria said in a prepared statement.  "The BlackBerry 8700v is a great addition to our portfolio of BlackBerry devices for both business and individual customers who need to access information while on the go."

Boris Boege of Skylab Mobile Systems writes to tell me that their GPS mapping tool "Spot for Blackberry" now supports all Bluetooth enabled Blackberry devices in combination with a Bluetooth GPS receiver.

Former versions were only compatible with BlackBerry 7520 and BlackBerry 7100i. Both of those models have an integrated GPS receiver.

Now, Spot for BlackBerry has been rev'd to support the BlackBerry 7100 Series, the BlackBerry 8700 Series as well as the BlackBerry 7250 and BlackBerry 7290.

"Spot for Blackberry" costs $49. A time limited demo version is available free for download.

Further information is available at: http://www.skylabmobilesystems.com/en/products/spot_bb.html

If you have a BlackBerry 7100, and want to create your own ringtones, you may wish to consider downloading and installing Millennium Studios' BlackBerry 7100 Series Ringtone Builder Package.

The Package includes:

• A digital video with ringtone creation instructions:
• A link to software that helps you convert sound files from the .wav or ,mp3 format to the BlackBerry format;
• 5 MB of hosting space on the Millennium Studio's ringtones web server, with uploading privileges for six months;
• 10 free ringtones, pre-configured for your BlackBerry and available on Millennium Studios' web server for you to download and install on your BlackBerry if you wish.

Total cost is $24.95, but Club Handango Members pay just $22.46.

Click the Read link below this post and you'll ring up Handango.com's BlackBerry 7100 Series Ringtone Builder Package page.

Phillippines wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. is introducing BlackBERRy Connect push email for new and existing users of the Nokia 9500 Communicator, Nokia 9300 smartphone and Sony Ericsson P910i in that nation.

These BlackBerry Connect-enabled products join Smart's existing portfolio of Blackberry 7100g, 7290 and 6720 devices.

 

Vodafone is introducing two BlackBerry models to its enterprise customers in Greece. 

Initial models to be offered include the BlackBerry 7290 and BlackBerry 7100v.

As part of this rollout, Vodafone Greece will offer the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution with BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

 "We are seeing a growing demand for wireless connectivity from mobile professionals in Greece," Haris Broumidis, Business Commercial Director, Vodafone Greece said in a statement. "BlackBerry has redefined the market for wireless push email technology offering a new and reliable communication solution. We are excited about the productivity benefits it will bring our customers, enabling them to remain connected to communications and information while on the go."

South African cellular provider Vodacom has announced the BlackBerry Connect for the Motorola MPx220 and the Sony Ericsson P910i, as well as BlackBerry Built-In for the Siemens SK65, for the first time in South Africa.

A unit of Vodafone, Vodacom has been carrying the BlackBerry 7100v and BlackBerry 7290 since Feburary of this year.