10 must-have apps for your BlackBerry

Not long ago, the words "BlackBerry" and "software" didn't belong in the same sentence. Sure, your BlackBerry smartphone was capable of running software; it even came with a few applications installed. But if you were looking for a wide selection of third-party productivity apps, you were out of luck.

Fortunately, things have changed. Today, people want more out of their smartphones, and phone manufacturers -- and third-party software developers -- are meeting those needs. Most new BlackBerry phones include more software than past versions have -- you'll even find the Documents to Go office suite installed on most new models. And thousands of applications are available for download and purchase. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is finally getting in on the act, too, as the company prepares to launch the BlackBerry Application Storefront, its answer to the iPhone's App Store, next month.

[ Read the InfoWorld Test Center's review: "BlackBerry Curve 8900 hits the hotspot with VoIP." And learn about turning smartphones into desktops on the go. ]

But you don't have to wait for the Storefront if you're looking for BlackBerry software. Plenty of great apps are around now -- you just have to know where to find them. We've rounded up 10 tools that can make your BlackBerry even better. This list is by no means comprehensive; the hardest part was whittling it down to only ten titles. So if your favorite BlackBerry app isn't on here, let us know in the comments section below.

Documents to Go, Premium Edition
DataViz
$70; BlackBerry OS 4.5 or higher

I know, I just said that most new BlackBerry phones come with a version of Documents to Go already installed. And they do -- but it's the Standard Edition. That app will let you view and edit existing Microsoft Office files, but it won't let you create new ones; for those capabilities, you need the Premium Edition. Both versions let you open existing Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents and Adobe PDF files natively, so you don't need to convert them to view them properly. They even let you view tracked changes and allow you to insert comments in spreadsheets.