Being a Kindle aficionado is about more than merely owning a Kindle, whether it’s the Kindle, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, or a Kindle Touch that you’ve managed to smuggle back in time. While Amazon’s e-Reader becomes a fast friend and frequent companion for those lucky enough to own one, the experience extends beyond the bounds of the device. There is of course the Kindle for PC application, for which I’ve only recently found applicable uses, but that’s not where it ends.

The slightly more interesting application, however, comes on cell phones. There’s been a Kindle app in the iPhone app store for months now (something I suspect might receive a second look with the announcement of the iPad), but Amazon has announced that a free Kindle app for the BlackBerry is now available for all customers based in the U.S. Or at least the ones who own the following models:

• Bold 9000
• Bold 9700
• Curve 8520
• Curve 8900
• Storm 9530
• Storm 9550
• Tour 9630

Simply type “amazon.com/kindlebb” into your browser on your BlackBerry, and the program will download. After that, it’s simply a matter of putting in your Amazon account information, and you’ll have unlimited access to all of the books, newspapers, magazines, and notes that are connected with your Amazon account. Even those who don’t yet own a Kindle can use the application, which makes it a good bet for those who aren’t sold on the whole e-Reader concept yet, or who just like the look of $9.99 new releases instead of paying $29.99 for a cumbersome hardcover edition.

I am somewhat dubious about the prospect of reading a book on a BlackBerry screen, to be honest. The iPhone app seemed like something of a stretch to my bespectacled eyes, but the BlackBerry Curve and Bold have even less screen real estate to work with, and they’re all backlit. This is why e-Readers are replete with e-Ink technology to begin with! It’s just hard to see on these bright little screens.

Still, as unwieldy as the practical applications of Kindle apps for cell phones are, I find myself curiously upset that they haven’t yet come out in support of Google’s Android operating system. My poor Droid Eris will be relegated to the uncultured morass of turret defense games and the mobile version of the New York Times, at least for the time being. For those BlackBerry owners out there, enjoy!