How To Update a BlackBerry with the New Daylight Saving Time Rules

The rules for when Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins and ends are changing this year, so all devices with a clock and calendar will need a software update, or else their clocks will move forward or backward an hour on the wrong dates.

Research in Motion has released a patch that will update update the DST rules on a large number of its recent devices.

This patch is for BlackBerries running Application Version 4.0.x and above. The company is still working on a software fix for models running Application Version 3.6.x and above.

Instructions for downloading RIM's Daylight Saving Time patch can be found on this company's web site.

Why Is This Necessary?

Previously DST began on the first Sunday in April, and ended on the last Sunday of October. Beginning this year, though, it will start on the second Sunday in March (March 11, 2007), and will changes back to standard time on the first Sunday in November (November 4, 2007).

The idea behind the Energy Policy Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress signed into law by Pres. Bush in 2005, is to save energy.

But it will require a large number of computers -- including handhelds and smartphones -- to have an update, as these devices use the old rules for when DST begins and ends. Otherwise, calendar events and email messages will indicate an hour off the actual time.

Both Palm, Inc. and Microsoft have released patches to update the DST rules on Palm OS and Windows Mobile models.

Related Articles

• Palm Issues Daylight-Saving Time Fix
• Microsoft Releases Daylight Savings Patch for Windows Mobile Devices