Fellow BlackBerry users will be happy to know that Research In Motion released a major update to the BlackBerry Messenger app today. The new version, 5.0.33, incorporates several interface enhancements and new features; for one, iPhone users will note that RIM now uses an (optional) “bubble” interface for chats, similar to the iPhone’s SMS system.
Read on for more information, but for those who can’t wait, you can download the new BBM 5.0 from the BlackBerry App World website (or the app if installed on your phone), or download the OTA version via your BlackBerry’s web-browser at http://blackberry.com/blackberrymessenger.
Now more directly resembling common Instant-Messaging clients, the new BBM also features:
- user avatar (display picture) support; avatars can also be assigned to/from BB Contacts.
- increased file transfer size limit to 6Mb
- group chat support
- message broadcasting (send a message to all contacts)
- ability to use 2-dimensional barcodes to invite fellow BB users to chat, by “scanning” your barcode with their camera
- a cleaned-up interface overall; emoticons have been re-designed for clarity, and message window makes better use of the screen’s real estate. You can choose between 3 chat styles, and toggle user-name display on and off to save space.
The update is available for all BlackBerry models running OS 4.5 and higher. So if you’re a fellow BB owner, head on over to the BlackBerry site and grab the update!
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