Today’s article is from a new blogger we are introducing, GuruBlake. He is a Blackberry lover and a shortcut user, and he is sharing his wisdom with us today. -Ed

If you have a qwerty BlackBerry, and are not using shortcut keys, you are truly missing out. Setting up home screen shortcuts is one of the first things I did when I purchased my first BlackBerry two and a half years ago. Why waste time scrolling around to click an icon, when you can simply hit one key instead? With that said, here is how you set shortcuts up:

Press the Send button > hit the Menu key > select Options > General Options > Dial From Home Screen > select ‘No’. Then save, and back out to your home screen and shortcuts are set up.

A > Address Book/Contacts
B > Browser
C > Address Book/Contacts
D > Memo Pad
F > Profiles (only for OS 4.x)
G > Google Talk (if installed)
I > Aol Instant Messenger (if installed)
K > Lock Keyboard (depending on OS)
L > Calendar
M > Messages
N > Blackberry Messenger aka BBM
O > Options
P > Phone
Q > Holding ‘Q’ will toggle between current Profile and Vibrate only on OS 5.0
R > Alarm (only OS 4.x)
S > Search
T > Tasks
U > Calculator
W > WAP Browser
X > Windows Messenger (if installed)
Y > Yahoo Messenger (if installed)

I can honestly say, I have hidden all of those icons on my screen, except ‘Options’ which you can’t hide. I don’t need them there. I don’t like clutter. I can click a key much faster anyway. Now, some of you may be thinking what about an SMS shortcut? What about other apps?

If you aren’t already doing so, you should also utilize your convenience keys. Go to Options > Screen/Keyboard and set your convenience keys to open 2 other important things that you use all of the time. If that isn’t enough for you, look for my upcoming review on Super QWERTY, the app that gives you one key access to all applications!