14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that all BlackBerry mobile phone users who will receive the OS 5.0 update on their devices will also be able to enjoy the new BlackBerry Messenger along with it. According to BRG, the platform upgrade includes the application with a wide range of new features that should make all BlackBerry users out there rejoice.
The upcoming BlackBerry Messenger comes with avatar support, offering users the possibility to set their avatar from a saved image or using the photo snapper on their device (the picture will show next to the user's messenger name on the friends' lists), and with GPS location integration, which offers users the possibility to allow their friends to always see their location, to ask for permission each time, or not to see it at all.
In addition, the application also features a proximity sensor, which should prove useful when a user comes close to one of the friends in the list, and Homescreen support, enabling users to pin contacts directly to the home screen for faster access. Moreover, the application is reported to allow them to set conversation subjects, meaning that they will be able to better organize the conversations on the main Messenger screen, and also tag the discussions.
Other features of the upcoming BlackBerry Messenger include SMS support, PIN barcode scanning (which, BGR says, is useful for those who do not want to enter the PIN of their friends: “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”), as well as Backup/Restore Messenger list to microSD card.
For what it's worth, the yet unannounced new BlackBerry Messenger includes some nice features, and a lot of users out there will surely be thrilled to learn what it can do. What remains to be seen is when the application will come to their handsets, and which BlackBerries will actually receive the OS 5.0 update, so stay tuned to learn more details on this.