Workaholics in the City are likely to celebrate news that their favourite gadget, the BlackBerry, is set to become slicker, faster and more powerful.

Research in Motion (RIM), the creator of the BlackBerry, yesterday announced the launch of an updated version - the BlackBerry Bold - in an apparent attempt to compete with Apple, which is tipped to launch a third generation (3G) version of its iPhone next month....

In what appears a direct move on Apple's potential customer base, RIM said music is now more easily downloaded and a new application provides "a simple way to sync iTunes digital music collections with the smartphone".

Widespread iPhone shortages, combined with an explosion in carrier deals, point to the launch of the next-generation iPhone as right around the corner, according to Piper Jaffray.

I know, I know: this isn't the first time you've heard that theory. But you have to admit that signs are piling up that a 3G iPhone is in Apple's short-term plans. Let's recap the evidence so far.

Google has released a new beta version of their Reader RSS client for iPhone. You can use it by visiting http://www.google.com/reader/i/ from Mobile Safari.

Google first introduced an XHTML version of Reader back in 2006 and released the new 2008 version with many of the same features that are available in their desktop app.

How must it feel to be AT&T right now? The company that helped birth the iPhone is losing its baby to peers around the globe.

Last week, Apple inked a 10-country deal with Vodafone that included Italy. Telecom Italia signed a contract for its homeland the same day, trade magazine PC World reports.

Wait, it gets better. The Vodafone deal also included Australia and India, two countries in which Singapore's SingTel have substantial operations. SingTel became an iPhone licensee on Monday.

The rub? iPhone deals like the ones AT&T and France Telecom signed last year are sooooooo yesterday....

Despite the iPhone app store being weeks away from launch, developer Intelliborn has just released a stellar application for users with jailbroken iPhones. Switchers from Windows Mobile phones who missed the "today" screen that lists a gathering of small bits of information on one screen essentially get the same thing with this app, which will compile weather, e-mail, SMS messages, and even RSS feeds on your phone's screen every time you hit a button to wake your phone up.

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