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Just when we think we’re out of free BlackBerry Twitter apps to review, we get one more*. Late last week Seesmic, a popular Web-based Twitter client, introduced a mobile application for BlackBerry. Behind Tweet Deck, Seesmic seems like the most popular Twitter client, so I was obviously excited to see it released for the BlackBerry. Users could access it via the BlackBerry browser since December of last year, but that’s not the same as a dedicated app. Now that we have the app in hand, it’s time to check out what it brings to the Twittering table.

*Sorry, we still can’t review SocialScope.

Getting started

The Seesmic mobile website detects your device, so just head there, seesmic.com, and you’ll see a link to download for BlackBerry. They have two versions, one for QWERTY models running OS 4.6 and up, and an alpha version for BlackBerry Storm users, both the original and the Storm 2. Just click on the appropriate link and you’ll see the download screen.

The download on my Tour was as quick as any other BlackBerry Twitter client, maybe even faster. The setup process is just one step, entering in your username and password. That brings you to your friends’ timeline, which is the perfect start screen. You’re basically ready to go from there, as Seesmic has only a few customization options. So let’s walk through the basics.

Sending a tweet and pictures

The basic functionality of Seesmic is so easy that I kind of feel bad for doing a whole walk-through of it. To send a new tweet, press the Menu button and select New Tweet. That brings you to the basic tweet screen. Here you can type your normal 140-character question. Seesmic also gives you some controls from this screen, including the ability to add your location, shorten a URL, or add a photo. This is the kind of control that other BlackBerry Twitter clients don’t offer.

Because the photo option is right on the main tweet page, sending them is incredibly easy. Just select Photo, and then select whether you’d like to choose a file or take a new photo. The latter brings you to the camera screen, and the former lets you explore your SD card and device memory. Select the file from here, and you can upload it to a photo service.

Seesmic allows you to choose either yFrog or TwitPic to host the pictures. I did find that it took a while to upload photos — and the ones I uploaded weren’t that large — but that could just be an isolated thing. To change which photo hosting service you use, hit the Menu button, select Settings, and then choose either yFrog or TwitPic under Media Provider.

Replies, direct messages, retweets

This is where I think Seesmic separates itself from other BlackBerry Twitter apps: it makes the basic Twitter functionalities incredibly easy. To reply to a tweet, retweet, or send a direct message, highlight the appropriate tweet, hit the Menu button, and select the corresponding option. It’s so damn easy that, again, I feel bad about doing a walk-through. There are no ambiguities to trip you up here.

There are some additional option in the individual tweet screen. To select a tweet just highlight it and trick the trackball/trackpad. Click the menu button and you’ll see the option to reply, direct message, and retweet. Here you can also email a tweet and view the specific user’s timeline. If only every other Twitter client was this easy.

Location

Seesmic gives you the option to geotag your tweets. On the main timeline screen press the Menu key and select Settings. Here you can set another options, including the aforementioned media provider. There’s a check box, the second option up from the bottom, which allows you to add Geo Location. Click that to enable it.

Then, when you go to send a new tweet, you’ll see an option to Get Location. If your BlackBerry has open GPS access, you’ll be able to add your specific location to a tweet. If, like me, you have Verizon, or another carrier that restricts GPS usage, you might not have as much luck. It’ll just stay stuck on “getting location” until you exit out of the tweet screen or just send your tweet.

Following and unfollowing

This walk-through/review has been mostly glowing, but that isn’t to say that Seesmic is perfect. For instance, I’m not the biggest fan of the unfollow process. It’s simple to do: just click on a tweet from the user, hit the Menu button, and select Unfollow. My problem is that there is no confirmation process. Once you click that, you’ve unfollowed the user, even if you clicked it by accident.

The good news is that re-following is easy. Just click Menu again and click Follow. You can follow new users, too, by finding one of their tweets, pressing Menu, and selecting Follow. Again, it’s a simple system that makes intuitive sense. I just wish they allowed a confirmation for unfollowing. Some of us mess up sometimes.

Search

Seesmic allows basic search functionality, a feature not included in all BlackBerry Twitter clients, but which obviously should be. Just click the Menu button on any timeline screen and select Search Twitter. That brings up an input box, where you can enter in any search term.

Because the nature of Twitter is changing, you might want to make the same search multiple times. Seesmic makes that easy. You can save any search by selecting Yes from the save search field. Down below that area there is a list of your saved searches for easy access. You can also delete any of your saved searches.

Shortcuts

There are no shortcuts, not even T for top and B for bottom. That is incredibly disappointing. It seems like those two shortcuts are near necessities for BlackBerry Twitter clients.

Random Thoughts

• Seesmic runs incredibly fast. Maybe that’s because it’s the first Twitter client I’m running on the Tour. Maybe it’s because it’s a really efficient program. I’m in love with the speed.
• As I’ve said throughout this review, the menu setup is intuitive. Everything makes sense, at least with the way I use Twitter.
• As of this moment, Seesmic beats out UberTwitter for my favorite.
• The notification of replies and direct messages is cool. I wish it integrated with the inbox, though.
• I’ve suggested all this to Seesmic. I suggest you do the same.

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