The other day when we posted about the RIM built instant messaging clients being updated, a few people asked about AIM and why it never received the same treatment. Well, reason is because the RIM built AIM client for BlackBerry smartphones is being replaced by one built specifically by AOL themselves. It's actually been available for quite a while but now -- RIM has sent out notifications letting users know the RIM built version will indeed stop working soon:

Beginning October 28, 2011, the AOL® Instant Messenger™ (AIM) for BlackBerry® smartphones application which you may currently be using is being discontinued and will no longer be supported. You may continue to access AIM service for your BlackBerry smartphone through a new AIM for BlackBerry® application built by AOL, which includes new capabilities such as letting you stay connected with your AIM Buddies and Facebook Chat friends while on the go.

To update to AIM for BlackBerry® built by AOL, please visit: http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/13833 and follow the on-screen instructions. To remove your current version of the AOL Instant Messenger for BlackBerry application, please refer to the support article at http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB26171

Please remember to install the new AIM for BlackBerry® application built by AOL before October 28, 2011 in order to continue sending and receiving AIM instant messages on your BlackBerry smartphone.

Thank you,

Research In Motion Limited 

If you're making use of the RIMbuilt client, make sure you go ahead and grab the AOL built version as soon as possible to avoid any problems further on down the road. Thanks, Jessica!

Looking for a video chat option that you can use for BlackBerry PlayBook to computer chats? Try out AV, a new video chat service from AIM. Since it's browser based, there is no need to install an app. Simply browse to the website on your PlayBook or computer, agree to the terms, and click Start. You're given a URL to share with up to 3 of your friends. Send the URL to whoever you want to video chat with, they agree to the terms, and you're instantly connected! There is no set up and no account is required. You can invite friends instantly via AIM or Facebook, or use the old fashioned copy/paste method.

This is a great option for those of you that don't have a PlayBook but have a computer, or vice versa, or if you want to have group chats with your other PlayBook owning friends. The site is still in beta, but from the tests I've done it works really well, so give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments below!

To get started with AV by AIM

The native BlackBerry IM clients got another round of updates earlier this week. Google Talk, AIM, Yahoo!, MSN Messenger and ICQ all now sit at version 2.5.63. These were all tested in the Beta Zone for a few weeks so should be good to go all around with some minor updates and even a new icon or two. Nothing major from what I can tell, but an update is an update. You can grab all the latest from BlackBerry App World.

• Download the native BlackBerry IM clients from BlackBerry App World >>

Research In Motion announced today that both AOL Instant Messenger and ICQ Messenger services are now available for the BlackBerry. Yahoo, MSN and Google messenger services have been available for some time, so it is nice to see the BlackBerry expanding its offerings.

Both programs can be downloaded from the BlackBerry site. AIM is available here. ICQ can be downloaded here. Both are free to download but usage fees might be applied by your carrier.

According to the guys over at BlackBerry Cool there are a couple of glitches in downloading the two programs, so you may want to hold off for a day or two until those issues are resolved.