BlackBerry Messenger has recently been updated to Version 5. Blackberry Messenger is available free via the Blackberry App World ( http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/3729 ) or via your Blackberry (www.blackberry.com/blackberrymessenger ).

The BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 includes the following updates in order of importance. Barcode invitations are now included. This means that you can add a new contact by scanning their Blackberry Messenger barcode via your Blackberry onboard camera. The barcode is an image ( two dimensional ) , which is unique to each Blackberry Messenger user.

Sending text messages directly from Blackberry Messenger is now included.  There’s no longer any need to alternate between applications to send text messages.

Group creation of contacts, friends etc is now possible so that sharing conversations, lists etc is a whole lot easier. In addition, contact status updates have been introduced so that you view what song titles your friends are listening to. Lastly file transfer has been added which lets you – Share pictures, videos, voice notes and more with multiple contacts at once.