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Research in Motion (RIM) makes on-the-go Web browsing with a BlackBerry about as easy as it can be—given that the keyboard is small and most pages aren't designed to be displayed on tiny screens. And most carriers offer portals that give you access to information specially formatted for handheld devices.

But wouldn't it be great if you could get the Web-based information you most often needed neatly organized, and all in one place? That's what a couple of recently introduced location-based software services for the BlackBerry offer.

Find It for BlackBerry, from InfoSpace Inc., lets you search for and get directions to businesses and other destinations near a location—including your current location calculated by a GPS receiver if you have one. While WorldMate 2006 Professional Edition for BlackBerry from MobiMate Ltd. gives you well-organized information for travelers, updated on demand over the Internet.

I tested both services using the BlackBerry 8800 PDA phone, supplied by AT&T (Cingular), which we reviewed recently in this space. Both obviously require a data contract with your carrier and will incur usage charges.

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