Every couple of months, RIM decides to go ahead and update their in-house developed Instant Messaging clients for BlackBerry smartphones. They never typically include any change logs with them so as the sizes of the apps continue to go, no one knows exactly what has changed.

Such is the case this time around as well. All RIM clients including Yahoo, Google Talk and Windows Live Messenger have been updated to v3.0.0.19 for those of you out there making use of them. You can grab the downloads for each below, however -- you may wish to avoid the Google Talk one as there has been reports of it not accurately showing online contacts that are available. Thanks, @Rootbrian_

Download Yahoo! Messenger
Download Google Talk
Download Windows Live Messenger

I don’t remember the last time I was chatting online though instant messaging. Really, I would say most of my conversations happen with my Blackberry used as a medium. What about you? Think about it. What better way is there to keep all of your friends, family and other contact all in one place? Here you have all of these apps installed, and all of them are ready to keep you connected. You have one for Twitter, another for Skype, another for Facebook and another for… hmm well that’s not very efficient is it? I mean, here I have all of these applications ready to help me commence in my rants and ramblings, but I don’t think my thumbs can take the typing AND navigating. Not to mention my poor BlackBerry is running low on memory. Perhaps I should cut back a little. Nah! Maybe I should find one app to cover my social networks!

That’s where an application like IM+ comes into play. This application becomes the hub to your online life (or in some cases your ONLY life). You can easily manage your accounts with some of the major players of the social networking game. Twitter, Google Talk, Jabber, you name it. Set your status to busy and have a look.

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SHAPE Services has recently updated their IM+ application for instant messaging across multiple clients. The new version features an updated UI which offers a much more refined appearance over previous versions. The UI changes were not the only thing added to the v8.5 release however, a few other big fixes and adjustmnents have been made to help make IM+ better for end users. They include:

• Convenient history review for all conversations
• Improved multichat support for MSN and Skype 

If you are already an existing user of IM+ then you may grab the download direct from the SHAPE Services website. And if you have yet to check out IM+ you can get yourself a license in the ShopCrackBerry App Store for $39.95 (yeah we know.. pretty pricey - don't shoot us, we don't set the prices) and a free trial is available if you'd rather just check the app out before purchase.

A few days ago Shape Services released an updated version of their IM+ Skype applicationt, this time around touting its offerings of free WiFi calling from your BlackBerry utilizing Skype. Given in the past applications like this have used a SkypeOut/SkypeIn call back feature users often found that while the calls were free, they were also using their minutes up when placing these calls. Not exactly my definition of free. I wanted true WiFi calling. No carrier connection just WiFi, which is what SHAPE claimed with this.

Quite honestly, it seems as though the BlackBerry platform is among the last to see this type of offering arrive. The iPhone has plenty of applications that can make use of VoIP and even the official Skype app for it, allows WiFi calling. Heck, I don't even have a SIM card in my iPhone and it still works for calls. Android is no exception there either, the Android marketplace has many apps in it that act the same way. Over time, I have heard many reasons as to why BlackBerry couldn't make use of this feature. Everything from it's a hardware issue right down to it being a security issue. All of which just sounded like rather half-arsed excuses to me. Here is a quick look at SHAPE services IM+ Skype offering, their latest offering promises free WiFi calling over VoIP and I put it to the test.

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