New BlackBerry Messenger Coming To All 5.0 Devices

on 17 Jun 2009 11:03 PM

New BlackBerry Messenger Coming To All Devices Running 5.0

On the heels of the long awaited announcement of the BlackBerry Tour, BGR has posted that the revamped BlackBerry Messenger we recently got a peak at will be rolling out on all devices with OS 5.0. Michael gave us a short run down of some of the finer improvements we will be seeing and has a great gallery of screenshots for everyone to drool over. Some of the highlights of the new BlackBerry messenger in addition to the ones already covered previously include:

SMS support — Long awaited on BlackBerry devices, threaded SMS soon available.
PIN barcode scanning — Forget a PIN? Not wanting to type out email addresses? Scan and save your friends "barcode" instead using integrated camera.
Backup/Restore Messenger list to microSD card — It's not running apps off the SD Card but we'll take it.

We got a few screenshots of our own after the jump be sure to check them out as well as the ones posted on BGR for all the new messenger goodness. Check out the new data usage tracker, I like that.

Filed Under: News & Rumors;

64 Comments

Posted by shaydakiss23 Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 967 days ago

Cant wait for this!

Posted by crackcop350 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 966 days ago

I just read where it will be on the 5.0 release. will I be able to get it for the .148 release on the storm???

Posted by imdaBold1 Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 967 days ago

this looks great! Cannot wait for it to be released

Posted by irie Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 967 days ago

I was this ish now.

Posted by mystichero06 Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 967 days ago

unless 5.0 allows me to save apps to sd card its an epic failure in my book they are so far behind everyone else i do love my storm now that its fixed for the most part though ^^ but saving apps to sd card would make it perfect

Posted by codemaker Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Seriously? epic failure? What about all of the other cool things in 5.0? Epic failure is a bit overkill. I do agree that apps on the SD card would enhance the blackberry platform though.

Posted by mystichero06 Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 849 days ago

epic failure other stuff on 5.0 is just ok at best and 85% is just lame saving apps to sd card is most important that way our apps wont suck a** compared to other oses even windows mobile is ahead of rim so yeah 5.0 owuld be a fail because its supposed to be an overhaul this is just minor updates should be renamed os 4.8 with all this useless crap

Posted by rbrown2123 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

In reference to saving apps to your SD Carad. The ( Aerize Card Loader ) will do just that.. Check it out in the crackberry app store.

Posted by rw6497 Friday, Jun 19, 2009 966 days ago

how well does this work????

Posted by wcihlu Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 967 days ago

Pin barcode scanning using the camera? What does dat mean

Posted by mookish Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

"PIN barcode scanning — Too lazy to add your friend to Messenger by entering in their PIN? Just have them click the Barcode option on their devices and, you guessed it, a barcode will show up letting the other party scan it with their BlackBerry camera and immediately add that contact to your list."

Posted by Bellerophon Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 967 days ago

Who called that it would have threaded SMS built in? Oh yea. Me.

http://crackberry.com/sneek-peak-new-blackberry-messenger#comment-206114

Hell yea! Can't wait for this. Looks frickin' awesome! :-D

Posted by rockigirl Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

The 5.0 os is looking better and better. I wish BGR put up a few pics of the threaded sms.

Posted by deathbyart Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I am like 2 days away from deciding on pulling the trigger for an iPhone and they start with this info..

Posted by MontanaVista Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Why would you buy a toy when you can buy a big boy's toy?

Posted by Jewelzz Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I'm right there with you deathbyart, the iPhone is looking nicer and nicer these days. I mean the Tour looks nice but 256 memory, that's it? C'mon RIM

Posted by codemaker Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

The iphone 3Gs only has 256 megs of ram too. The difference is you can install apps to the internal memory.

Posted by SFEdward Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

omg omg omg omg omg omg omg

Posted by hailmegatron Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

so is this only for devices running on 5.0? I'm kinda confused.

Posted by royeiror Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Any news on what devices will have 5.0 Os available?

since 4.5 was available for the 8700, i'd imagine 5.0 would be released for the 8100 and so on, any news regarding that?

Posted by Teksu Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I think i read that 5.0 will be available for any device that currently runs 4.6.x or higher

Posted by stayfly Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

bbm already has threaded so will the sms be threaded like if a friend dosent have a bb will the sms be threaded?

Posted by codemaker Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Yeah, probably. BBM is completely seperate from SMS. It does not make sense that sms would be threaded only to people who have BBs.

Posted by yorkkid11 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

so i have a blackberry curve 8330M.. currently running 4.5.0.138 would the new bb messenger be available for me?

Posted by beckster Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I second that emotion! I love my 8330 but it seems like the higher end devices are getting all of the attention! Please tell us it WILL work on our os 4.5 or that they will be releasing 5.0 for the Curves!

Posted by necrogram Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I've been told by rim not to bepecting 5.0 on the older devices (81xx/83xx/88xx) due to limited application flash space. I had to deal with this years ago with what devices could upgrade to the shiney 4.0 code

Posted by shimojunk Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 966 days ago

Looks like the majority of users WON'T be able to use the new BB messenger then. Most people who have blackberries that I see/know have a 83XX variation.

That's some weak sh!t but a fact of life. LOL

Posted by djjackm Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I have been holding off on a new phone purchase for awhile, waiting for the dust to settle on all these new devices. I am happy with my 8320 and use BBM all day long. I would think this would be a pretty easy setup, even if they didn't include the camera barcode option.

mypin anybody?

Posted by Stormbot Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

What an UGLY User Interface. RIM really sucks when it comes to its u.i. So amateur and low budget.

Posted by Boomh4u3r Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I wanted a middle finger smiley!!!

Posted by raameen Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

this feature will really rock.
its amazing that now with BB messenger u can do so many things.
cant wait to get one.

Cheerzzz to CB Community.

Posted by skyboxer Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I don't use BBM so I am unfamiliar with the current version, but it looks like this new one can add a contact by email, phone number, or PIN. Also the ability to send pictures and files. It sounds like this new BBM will be handling all of the messaging duties. I was close to buying a threaded SMS app, but now I'll just wait, and probably wait some more.

Posted by silvio000 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Will it work on clients that don't use a BES or BIS account?

Posted by 1jaxstate1 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Don't really matter. Doesn't seem like RIM does a good job of releasing software on a regular basis.

Posted by rizzzzoooo Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

All this eye candy is great and all but WHEN could we possibly start seeing all this come to us? Does anyone have any inkling as a possible rollout date? It kind of stinks that some much noise is being made by Apple these days with its new I phone and firmware and all "we" have is some beautifully done screen shots of what we could do with all these new things in 5.0 and BBM and so on. I am close to the point of giving up on RIM and jumping ship to get me a 3Gs. Frustrating, frustrating, and more frustrating....

Posted by codemaker Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Currently OS 5.0 is rumored to have a fall release date. Keep in mind that is just a rumor. Also once released, the OS will have to pass carrier testing which could take additional time (months).

Posted by jsanta11 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

That Looks Sick I cant wait to have it on my Bold...Any ETA on the Upgrade???

Posted by hudss Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

is going to be awesome for BB users!

Posted by SilverLight98 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

This is great I can't wait for the 5.0 release (or leaks). Now if they can only bring this kind of creativity, coolness, usefulness and innovation to the BB browser......

Posted by ness_lewis Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I just hope it comes out before I ship out! lol I can't wait!!!

Posted by Kaminsky Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I think i may upgrade my OS just to try this out...and then when we get a device with 5.0 on Tmo, I'm so buying one...

Posted by Iron_Hide Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Now, if only we could get RIM to allow us to backup our Homepage setups and custom ring tones, so that we don't have to spend so long redoing everything to just the way we like it every time we do a hard reset!!!
For us early adopters who are always trying out the newest Beta OS or cool software, it is a major PITA! :-)

Oh....and while we are at it......can we install programs to our memory cards PLEEEEEEEEEEAAAASE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate having to pick and choose what programs I have room for on my Bold.

Guess I'll just HAVE to upgrade to the Onyx when it is released....sigh... :-)

Posted by njbourne23 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Do we have an expected release date for an OS upgrade for storm users? I love hearing about all the new things coming out for 5.0 but when are WE getting it? also i can see in the near future the same things with bar code scanning like the G1 has. We'll be scanning stuff at the store and buying i online very soon with our BB

Posted by Dunn- Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Release date is scheduled for "later this year"

However, I've seen leaks of 5.0 if you have the Bold or 8900...use at your own risk of course

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/09/19/
blackberry-os-50-your-first-looky-looky/

Posted by Leo.brazuca Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Are we ever going to have 5.0 on the BlackBerry Storm?

Posted by alandry65 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

I can't wait for it to be released and try it out!!!

Posted by dmk2008 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Can't wait

Posted by franke2008 Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

it took 6 months to go from.75 to .148. WTF! We need a Steve Jobs type at RIM to light a fire under the OS writers and get updates like the iPhone. You know, bells and confetti. A big Keynote. If it weren't for the roomers there wouldn't be any thing on this site to talk about.

Posted by cheapname Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Will I be able to start a BBM conversation through the menue in contacts?

Posted by rizzzzoooo Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 967 days ago

Is it possible to have the new BBM on the OS 4.6.x that currently exists?