As I mentioned in another post, Google Maps is one of the most important applications you could install on your Blackberry Pearl.

Once you’ve installed it, you’ll want to know all the shortcuts that make it much easier to use. Here’s what you’ll need to know:

Press 1 Zooms out

Press 3 Zooms in

Press 2 Toggles between map and satellite view

Press # Show search results

Press 4 Show previous search location

Press 6 Show next search location

Press 5 Scroll up

Press 8 Scroll down

Press 7 Scroll left

Press 9 Scroll right

Press 0 Show “My Location”

Press * List saved favorites

You can also use the pearl button to scroll left, right, up and down.

If you press the pearl button when you’re looking at your search locations a new menu will come up showing you more information about that location. This also has a listing of phone numbers and the ability to dial the business directly.

If you don’t have Google Maps on your Blackberry Pearl yet, you need it.

If I had to recommend just one application to add to your Blackberry Pearl, it would have to be Google maps.

Real-time traffic — Find out exactly where the traffic is and estimate delays in over 30 major US cities.

Detailed directions — Whether you plan to walk or drive, your route is displayed on the map itself, together with step-by-step directions.

Search for local businesses — You can search for a specific business name or a general type of business. You can even type in an address.

Movable Map — It’s very easy to zoom in or out scroll side to side.

Satellite imagery — Get a bird’s eye view of what you’re looking at in the map.

Here’s a little video from Google to explain the latest feature called “My Location”:

Grab your Blackberry Pearl and browse over to www.google.com/gmm and start using Google Maps for your Blackberry.

Once you have Google Maps installed you’ll want to learn the keyboard shortcuts in Google maps specifically for the Blackberry.

I’m always giving my thumb a major workout as I try to scroll through pages and pages of emails using the scroll ball on my Blackberry Pearl. I desperately needed a way to go from 2/3 of the way down my list of messages to the very top. I knew there was a way, I didn’t know it.

Here’s some keyboard shortcuts I found. I’d love to know of any others you may have.

PRESS 1 - Go to the top of your list of messages

PRESS 7 - Go to the bottom of your list of messages

PRESS 2 - Move up one message at a time.

PRESS 8 - Move down one message at a time.

PRESS 3 - Move up one day at a time.

PRESS 9 - Move down one day at a time.

PRESS 0 - Page down

PRESS 5 - Start a new blank message

PRESS * SYM - Go to your unread messages