The Weather Channel Mobile announced on Monday the launch of a new version of its application for Blackberry devices, one that comes for free and is ad-supported. The Weather Channel app for BlackBerry comes with GPS-based Location Tracker, as well as with interactive radar maps. The new application can be downloaded for free from the BlackBerry App World, the company states.

The interactive radar maps are not the only features that Weather Channel for BlackBerry comes with. In addition, the application also delivers current conditions, hourly, 36-hour and 10-day forecasts, all meant to help users who need to know these things in planning their current activities. Moreover, it also enables users to share weather alerts and current conditions and forecasts with their friends directly from the application, either via e-mail or text messages. In addition, the app also sports integration with the BlackBerry calendar and address book, so that it offers even more functionality to users.

“Developing and releasing an ad-supported app enables us to deliver the most accurate weather content available to millions of BlackBerry users in the format they prefer,” said Cameron Clayton, vice president of mobile at The Weather Channel Interactive. “This increased accessibility is part of our ongoing effort to give more consumers useful, relevant weather content on every platform.”

The Weather Channel application for BlackBerry comes with expandable banner ads that are meant to enable users to click directly to Web, video, locations or to call, while the weather application remains opened. According to the company, “this creative execution was based on industry feedback that shows advertisers are looking for solutions where consumers can interact with the creative without being redirected to another site.”

The new free Weather Channel for BlackBerry application can be downloaded for free for Curve, Bold, Tour and Storm from the BlackBerry App World. Users can also try the premium, ad-free version of The Weather Channel for BlackBerry, which is available for purchase for a one-time fee of $3.99.