Juice Wireless Inc.'s mobile social media service JuiceCaster is now available for the BlackBerry Curve via a free beta application for subscribers of AT&T and Verizon Wireless in the United States.

For a limited time, BlackBerry users can sign-up to receive the JuiceCaster beta at http://www.juicecaster.com/blackberry. In the coming weeks, the free beta will be opened up for BlackBerry Pearl and Bold users and for all BlackBerry users in Europe.

JuiceCaster is a multimedia social networking application, so we've long been waiting for Blackberry devices to support pictures and video, and with phones like the Blackberry Curve and Bold, our wait is over," said Nick Desai, CEO of Juice Wireless, Los Angeles.

"Blackberry phones are conventionally known for seamlessly merging email, text and voice connectivity into a single device, and with JuiceCaster, we're adding a multimedia social connectivity layer to these devices," he said.

JuiceCaster lets mobile phone users capture pictures and videos and share them instantly with their favorite online social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Photobucket, Hi5, Blogger, Orkut and a number of other Web sites.

JuiceCaster lets Blackberry users connect in real-time with friends and interact with new people in the JuiceCaster mobile community by exchanging public and private multimedia messages on the go.

"Just as you compose an email on a Blackberry, you can now as easily send a picture or video to friends on your favorite social networks," Mr. Desai said. "And just as you receive an alert for a new email, JuiceCaster alerts you about new comments and friends' activity online."

JuiceCaster enables media-rich blogging. It also lets consumers post live video and picture updates on Twitter and Facebook and following members' status updates.

According to Strategy Analytics, Blackberry devices had a record quarter in Q2 2008, accounting for one out of every 10 handsets sold in North America.

JuiceCaster is also available on Windows Mobile devices, a wide range of AT&T and T-Mobile handsets running Java, Alltel, US Cellular and Cricket devices running BREW, as well as NSeries Nokia phones running S60.

Alltel added JuiceCaster 6.0 earlier this summer (see story).

"An iPhone version is in the works," Mr. Desai said. "We're also of course working on Android."

With the launch of the beta, JuiceCaster is addressing the burgeoning Blackberry market. Once viewed as a business-productivity device, Blackberry now has a wide audience of social networkers and media-savvy users who rely on their Blackberry devices to capture and share personal media.

"In the last couple of years RiM has done a fantastic job of shedding the Blackberry's image as a stuffy enterprise tool," Mr. Desai said. "With camera and multimedia support in recent and upcoming devices, the Blackberry now has much younger appeal.

"The new generation of Blackberry users don't just have an email account, they also communicate via their Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts, and they also do more than write text, they share pictures and videos," he said. "JuiceCaster targets these younger users who want more than just email connectivity."

In a recent comScore release, M:Metrics reported that photo messaging from mobile phones has grown 60 percent in the U.S.

JuiceCaster addresses the social media needs of the Blackberry market by delivering a real-time experience, which ties in bite-sized media with mobile community and online social networking.

JuiceCaster lets consumers broadcast video and picture status updates and invite friends and non-members to follow their updates.

Consumers can create unique custom groups such as fantasy football, work friends or family to send group video and picture messages to mobile phones, email lists and online social networks.

JuiceCaster also features constant video and picture blogging to personal blogs or Web sites.

JuiceCaster lets conusumers search and view videos and pictures on their Blackberry device. They can connect with friends in real-time and interact with new people on JuiceCaster.

JuiceCaster will get the word out on the Blackberry beta program with outreach to Blackberry- and smartphone-oriented sites and blogs, so they can let their readers know about JuiceCaster and the availability of the free Beta application.

"We're also communicating the free beta program to targeted consumer publications that focus on technology and gadgets, as well as email communication and SMS communication to the current base of JuiceCaster users," Mr. Desai said. "There's a promotion on the JuiceCaster.com Web site, and through the Blackberry Beta site itself at http://www.juicecaster.com/blackberry.

"There's also communication on third-party social networks, on message boards and postings in which JuiceCaster has a presence," he said.