By default BlackBerry devices are equipped with only two user definable keys. This can be limiting for anyone wanting fast one key access to additional programs or features on the BlackBerry. Fortunately a third party developer, Nikkisoft, has created a solution. Their recently updated QuickLaunch 1.4 offers shortcuts to almost any program imaginable on your BlackBerry 9500, 9530, 8900, 9000, 83xx, 81xx.

Quicklaunch is an amazingly simple (and powerful) program. The way it works is you re-map one of your convenience keys so that it starts QuickLaunch.

The program does not continuously run in the background – so you save precious memory and system resources. Only when you push your mapped convenience key does QuickLaunch leap into action.

I’ve re-mapped my left convenience key so when I press the button QuickLaunch runs. The program starts nearly instantly with no perceptible lag whatsoever.

From within the QuickLaunch program a quick press of the left BlackBerry menu key launches another menu where you configure QuickLaunch.

From the Add Items menu you can insert any number of standard BlackBerry menu options.

Notice that I’ve mapped the BlackBerry camera so that I no longer have to take up a convenience key to launch it. I’ve also mapped the BlackBerry memory cleaner which I can now run with one click to clear stray bits of memory.

Maybe the coolest think about QuickLaunch is you can add tasks such as emailing, texting, “Pinning” or phoning contacts to the menu. This creates a one click shortcut to any of these activities. The relevant address is automatically pre-filled when you use the shortcut.

For example, here’s a shortcut that I’ve created for email.

When clicked, the link opens BlackBerry email (in compose mode) with the email address already entered.

This is a really handy shortcut tool that can save lots of time if you are repeatedly emailing the same people over and over.

One issue I found with the email shortcuts is that the “Send Using” seemed to vary without any explanation. On some contacts the “Send Using” would be my Geardiary account. Still others were sent with my “S-Consult” email account. UPDATE: This appears to be an issue where my BlackBerry is sending to each contact using the email account that I last used to email that contact. I’m not sure if this is default BlackBerry behavior – but since it happens to me outside of QuickLaunch – it’s definitely NOT a QuickLaunch bug.

You can also setup shortcuts to phone numbers in your address book. I found there was an issue if you tried to create a shortcut to an address book entry that included extra characters like “pause” or “wait”. When I added those types of numbers to an shortcut entry they hung the application. The developer indicates that the issue is resolved in their next release of the software.

Conclusion:
One of the coolest and most useful applications for the BlackBerry that I’ve used in quite some time. The sheer number of shortcuts that you can easily create – ranging from native BlackBerry apps to email contacts – is daunting and amazingly helpful. Already I find myself relying on this as my only way of launching applications on the BlackBerry.

The application launches fast and provides so much convenience that it should be standard on every BlackBerry. The price is right too – at only $4.99 you cannot afford to be without this.

Link: QuickLaunch from Nikkisoft – $4.99

What I Like:
- Just about everything
- Fast loading
- Doesn’t remain memory resident so there’s no overhead
- Fast shortcuts to email, phone numbers, SMS, PIN

What Could Be Improved:
- Allow for extra dialing codes such as required by Google Voice

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