BIS 2.5 IM Clients for BlackBerry Smartphones

Preview: What's Coming in BIS 2.5 BlackBerry IM Clients!

By Kevin Michaluk on 26 Aug 2009 02:34 am

We've all seen (or used!) the updated BlackBerry Messenger client that will roll out in OS 5.0, as well as the native threaded SMS client that popped up in OS 5.0.0.190. With big improvements shown in these native BlackBerry messenging apps, you have to ask the question what if else will be getting an update... the answer to which is the big third party BlackBerry Instant Messaging clients of course!! We're hearing it'll be mid/late September when the BlackBerry IM clients Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Google Talk and ICQ (does anybody actually still use that?) will see improvements via their BIS 2.5 update. New features include the ability to:

Add dedicated icons to the Home Screen for one-click access to conversation boxes of specific contacts. The icon appears as the contact's display picture or avatar
Add contacts and display pictures or avatars to the address book to easily send instant messages, email messages, SMS text messages, or place a call right from the address book or conversation box
Search through saved conversations
Add dedicated emoticon icons in the conversation box

For a detailed overview and look at what's coming, take a look below. I'm getting more and more excited for the rollout of OS 5.0 and these IM client updates by the minute. The already excellent BlackBerry communication experience is going to be even better. Excited much?

BlackBerry IM Clients 2.5 - Overview, What's New & Features

BlackBerry Instant Messaging Clients

Topics: News & Rumors

Kevin Michaluk 3677 (articles) 3020 (forum posts)

28 comments

Dctaneyo Aug 26, 2009 at 2:39 am

they don't think of stuff like....
-offline messaging
-status message for AIM
and some other stuff I can't think of right now.

Oh, why is it that it on the sidekick, iPhone, etc... when signed in, it'll show as on computer but with the Blackberry Clients it shows as mobile. I'd rather it show as computer that way people KNOW I'm online.

Rudolphe Aug 26, 2009 at 3:11 am

You just can't satisfy some people

ayoOmy Aug 27, 2009 at 8:00 pm

with Dwayyne... it irks when someone is ghost and they type to me and i cant type back

HennyHalfcourt Aug 26, 2009 at 2:54 am

Allow you to show others what music you're listening to like on aim...

maxknux Aug 26, 2009 at 3:35 am

I agree that would be so cool to have the Blackberry Media player to tell the IM Client what you are playing which the IM Client updates the status message of what you are playing just like on a computer.

tj_elward Aug 27, 2009 at 1:09 am

bbm5.0 has an option for that...so maybe for others

Daveyon Aug 26, 2009 at 5:46 am

Looks great. Can't wait to use it.

rainbowrunner Aug 26, 2009 at 7:04 am

i dont know the situation in usa but here in austria and generally central europe icq is still widely used and the main messaging account for many people. i doubt that many of them use the original icq client on their pc but there are many alternatives , thank god.
so i am happy to hear that rim has not forgotten icq and plans some updates :)

Majarvis Aug 26, 2009 at 7:40 am

Are they finally going to fix the problem with WLM not automatically signing in when switching connections (3G to WiFi) or being able to ACTUALLY sign in on the PC and BB at the same time?

mikedoan Aug 26, 2009 at 9:11 pm

I agree. This is something that WLM desktop client supports... so begs the question why would you sign in on two different PC's. Wouldn't it be blatently obvious that one would be signed in on a mobile device (i.e. BlackBarry) and desktop simultaneously???

viajshekar Aug 26, 2009 at 9:23 am

I am looking forward for the release of this IM client
http://www.acerlaptops.info

Chief Beefalo Aug 26, 2009 at 10:20 am

Will this be something that i can upgrade my bold to when it rolls out? Or is this only gonna be placed on new model phones?

jc Aug 26, 2009 at 11:38 am

WLM on my curve can do all that.

mookish Aug 26, 2009 at 12:07 pm

A lot of these so called updates are already live, as I was reading, I kept saying to myself, I can do that now...I can do that now, I can do that now...only a few are new. But hey, I'll take all new features.

Avery217 Aug 26, 2009 at 12:49 pm

...i love Blackberry

stegerva Aug 26, 2009 at 3:21 pm

aren't we already using 2.7? next should be 2.8? AM I missing something?

Kaminsky Aug 26, 2009 at 3:47 pm

I can't wait the official release to this...

bladedog Aug 26, 2009 at 5:02 pm

One thing I noticed right away, is the Tour doesn't show when the other person is typing in BB Messenger? Is there a setting, or is that the new thing that RIM has left off the list?

rxgadget Aug 26, 2009 at 6:30 pm

bladedog:
If you look at the icon itself a little 'A' appears on the icon showing typing rather than busy, unavailable, etc..

asproles Aug 26, 2009 at 7:28 pm

As awkward as it may sound to you I only use AIM.

asproles Aug 26, 2009 at 7:28 pm

As awkward as it may sound to you I only use AIM.

jeremy1 Aug 26, 2009 at 8:54 pm

What do the new clients have to do with BIS? The OS app version 5.0.0.190 package comes with version 2.5.22 of Google Talk and it has the new features.