If you've ever watched someone who's an expert at using a piece of software, you'll quickly notice they don't use their mouse as much as most people. They'll use something called "keyboard shortcuts" to move about the program quickly and smoothly. As easy as it is to use a mouse, it's not always the fastest route from point A to point B.
Most people who use a Blackberry Pearl will scroll to an item, press the pearl or Blackberry button, scroll down to the selection they want and press it again. That's a long process if you're in a hurry. It's not going to make or break your hectic schedule, but it does involve some unnecessary action you can soon depart with. You're about to learn a few of the keyboard shortcuts the pros use.
Shortscuts Using Your Keyboard
The other day I heard a business give it's phone number and instead of giving me all of the numbers, they spelled out a word that they thought was easy to remember. Well, it was easy to remember, but I couldn't use it on my Blackberry Pearl because the letters don't match up with the words the same way they do on a traditional phone. So, while I could remember the number, I couldn't actually dial it.
I've actually had situations where I would look at a "regular" phone and translate the word into numbers so I could dial it on my Blackberry Pearl. Thankfully I've learned of a secret little keyboard trick that eliminates this problem. As you're dialing a number, when you get to the part where you need to spell, just press and hold the ALT key (t's the one just below ZX on the left) and then spell the word using "multi-tap."
"Multi-tap" mean, if you want to use the 2nd letter on a key, you press it twice. For example, take out your Pearl and look at it. If you want to type a Y, you'd press the "2" key two times. The first press brings up the T and the second tap brings up the Y. If you ever have to type in a password using your Pearl, it works the same way.
Most of the mobile phone providers offer up shortcuts for accessing your usage balance or even to make a payment. For Verizon, you can check your balance by pressing #BAL and then send. Now you can just press # and then hold ALT while you press "8", "?" and then ",". That will spell #BAL. Then press send you'll soon have your balance of minutes.
Managing Your Messages With Shortcuts
Now lets look at faster ways to get around your messages on your Blackberry. The shortcut I use most frequently is the REPLY key when I'm looking at my list of messages. Here's how it works. If you're looking at your list of messages and you see something you should have replied to earlier, just press the "!" key. It's in the upper left corner of the keypad and shares the space with Q and W. This will instantly open up a reply message. Type your message and press send. Done.
That is a lot less effort than you'd have to go through using the scroll ball and the "Blackberry button." Give it a try and you'll soon have this shortcut at the top of your list as well.
This is probably my 2nd favorite Blackberry Pearl shortcut. Stop typing in the period at the end of each sentence. No, this won't cause a bunch of run-on sentences nobody can understand. Instead of typing the period, just press space twice. Try it now and see what happens. Like magic, your Pearl adds in the period and you can keep on typing. Your Pearl is also smart enough to add in the @ symbol when you press space while adding an email address.
If you're inbox is like mine, it can fill up quite fast with text messages, emails, voice mail and of course phone calls. Scrolling down to find a phone call you made earlier in the day can sometimes prove more difficult than it sounds. Try this next time. If you just want to see your phone calls (made and receieved) press and hold ALT while you press the letter P. There they are, only phone calls. Just want your your text or SMS message listed? Press and hold ALT while you press S. Just want voice mail? Press and hold ALT while you press V. When you're done, either press and hold ALT and I or just press escape.
I've found, if I try to learn too many shortcuts at one time, I never really master them. So, instead, just focus on these few I've given you and you'll have them memorized in no time at all. These are so powerful and are useful so often, they really will speed up your navigation on your phone. Than you can move on to more important things. - 16039
Most people who use a Blackberry Pearl will scroll to an item, press the pearl or Blackberry button, scroll down to the selection they want and press it again. That's a long process if you're in a hurry. It's not going to make or break your hectic schedule, but it does involve some unnecessary action you can soon depart with. You're about to learn a few of the keyboard shortcuts the pros use.
Shortscuts Using Your Keyboard
The other day I heard a business give it's phone number and instead of giving me all of the numbers, they spelled out a word that they thought was easy to remember. Well, it was easy to remember, but I couldn't use it on my Blackberry Pearl because the letters don't match up with the words the same way they do on a traditional phone. So, while I could remember the number, I couldn't actually dial it.
I've actually had situations where I would look at a "regular" phone and translate the word into numbers so I could dial it on my Blackberry Pearl. Thankfully I've learned of a secret little keyboard trick that eliminates this problem. As you're dialing a number, when you get to the part where you need to spell, just press and hold the ALT key (t's the one just below ZX on the left) and then spell the word using "multi-tap."
"Multi-tap" mean, if you want to use the 2nd letter on a key, you press it twice. For example, take out your Pearl and look at it. If you want to type a Y, you'd press the "2" key two times. The first press brings up the T and the second tap brings up the Y. If you ever have to type in a password using your Pearl, it works the same way.
Most of the mobile phone providers offer up shortcuts for accessing your usage balance or even to make a payment. For Verizon, you can check your balance by pressing #BAL and then send. Now you can just press # and then hold ALT while you press "8", "?" and then ",". That will spell #BAL. Then press send you'll soon have your balance of minutes.
Managing Your Messages With Shortcuts
Now lets look at faster ways to get around your messages on your Blackberry. The shortcut I use most frequently is the REPLY key when I'm looking at my list of messages. Here's how it works. If you're looking at your list of messages and you see something you should have replied to earlier, just press the "!" key. It's in the upper left corner of the keypad and shares the space with Q and W. This will instantly open up a reply message. Type your message and press send. Done.
That is a lot less effort than you'd have to go through using the scroll ball and the "Blackberry button." Give it a try and you'll soon have this shortcut at the top of your list as well.
This is probably my 2nd favorite Blackberry Pearl shortcut. Stop typing in the period at the end of each sentence. No, this won't cause a bunch of run-on sentences nobody can understand. Instead of typing the period, just press space twice. Try it now and see what happens. Like magic, your Pearl adds in the period and you can keep on typing. Your Pearl is also smart enough to add in the @ symbol when you press space while adding an email address.
If you're inbox is like mine, it can fill up quite fast with text messages, emails, voice mail and of course phone calls. Scrolling down to find a phone call you made earlier in the day can sometimes prove more difficult than it sounds. Try this next time. If you just want to see your phone calls (made and receieved) press and hold ALT while you press the letter P. There they are, only phone calls. Just want your your text or SMS message listed? Press and hold ALT while you press S. Just want voice mail? Press and hold ALT while you press V. When you're done, either press and hold ALT and I or just press escape.
I've found, if I try to learn too many shortcuts at one time, I never really master them. So, instead, just focus on these few I've given you and you'll have them memorized in no time at all. These are so powerful and are useful so often, they really will speed up your navigation on your phone. Than you can move on to more important things. - 16039
About the Author:
Paul Herrington is sometimes referred to as a Blackberry Pearl power user. Paul loves to show someone how to be more efficient with their time using hidden secrets like the keyboard shortcuts
