Back in December we mentioned that Amazon was working on a Kindle application for BlackBerry.  Now that free app is officially available to download for U.S. customers.   Just point your BlackBerry browser over to amazon.com/kindlebb, or go to the Kindle for BlackBerry site right on your computer to email yourself the download link.

Features include:

- Search and browse more than 400,000 books, including 101 of 112 New York Times® Best Sellers.
- Find New York Times Best Sellers and new releases for $9.99, unless marked otherwise
- Get free book samples – read the first chapter for free before you decide to buy
- Books you purchase can also be read on a Kindle, computer, or other Kindle-compatible mobile device
- Kindle newspapers, magazines, and blogs are not currently available for Kindle for BlackBerry.

First impressions?  Not bad.  Full QWERTY-keyboard BlackBerry devices, like the Bold 9700, suffer a bit from a smaller screen compared to a full-touchscreen ‘Berry like the Storm or Storm2.  The larger screens on those devices will likely provide an improved eBook reading experience.   Right now I see Kindle for BlackBerry as more of a “gateway” app for eBooks.  You won’t want to read War and Peace on a ‘Berry, but it is a good way to keep up on your reading on occasions when you don’t happen to have your eReader with you.

If you’re a BlackBerry user, you should certainly check it out — and let us know your impressions.  Look for a full Gear Diary review of Kindle for BlackBerry very soon.