BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 OTA links available UPDATE

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BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 has been available for OTA download over the weekend and you’ve probably seen people Tweeting about it. The good folks at Omie Tech have been creating mirrors and redirects for the downloads because they keep getting pulled and exceeding their bandwidth.

Go to the OmieTech page for the latest mirrors and downloads for BlackBerry Messenger 5.0.

The latest build for BlackBerry Messenger has a ton of new features such as:

SMS support – BlackBerry devices are finally getting threaded SMS support.

PIN barcode scanning – Rather than find your PIN and reading or sending it, you will be able to scan a barcode to get the PIN. Just press the barcode option and another BlackBerry with a camera can scan it.

Backup/Restore Messenger list to microSD card —This is going to be huge, especially for people who change devices a lot.

Avatar support — set your own avatar using the Camera or saved photo on your device (this is displayed locally as well as shown next to your Messenger name on your friend’s buddy list).

GPS location integration — you can now set permissions so friends can always see your location, have to request it each time, or never can see it.

Proximity sensor — we’re guessing this will let you know if you’re within a certain distance of friends (pending, of course, you’re both set to share locations freely with each other).

Set conversation subjects — this will allow you to organize your convos on the main Messenger screen and label them with subjects to keep track of all your conversations.

Homescreen support — you can pin/sticky actual Messenger contacts directly to the homescreen for easy access!

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Personally, my favorite part about the new BlackBerry Messenger is the fact that it uses QR codes. I’ve been interested in this technology for a long time, and it’s going to make North American mobile culture much more interesting. The codes are used ubiquitously in Japan and Asia Pacific, for everything from using the subway, to social networks. They even have a clothing line that uses QR codes to help you socialize.

The avatar support is one of the first features you will get into and it’s a nice improvement. It seems RIM is taking social networking seriously, and you can see how all these initiatives will start converging in the coming years. I can see BlackBerry Messenger integrating with your contacts across all your networks, bringing them into one place and device.

Check out BBM for yourself!

UPDATE: Sorry, I obviously should have included the caveat that it could be bad for your device. Make sure you do all the necessary backups.

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19 Responses to “BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 OTA links available UPDATE”

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1 mayhem.one
July 20, 2009 at 11:06 am

I installed it on my 8900 over the weekend. Sadly the threaded SMS wasn’t on this version. Other then that I’m liking it.
2 Thomas M
July 20, 2009 at 11:24 am

Is BBM 5.0 backwards compatible with devices on older versions?

Clearly features such as the QRCode scanning will only work for new clients but presumably basic conversations, file sharing and emoticons etc will still work when talking to older versions?

Anyone care to confirm?
3 DavidB
July 20, 2009 at 11:35 am

This leaked BBM is causing a lot of problems fir a lot of people. So be careful if you try it, and be sure to read up on various forums about what bad things COULD happen…
4 Mark
July 20, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Article stated:
The latest build for BlackBerry Messenger has a ton of new features such as:
# SMS support – BlackBerry devices are finally getting threaded SMS support.

Oh really? I don’t think so.
5 glockstar865 (Gary)
July 20, 2009 at 3:33 pm

RT @BlackBerryCool: BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 OTA links available http://bit.ly/946CQ IT’S HERE!!!!
6 drumdog00 (Justin Van Rheenen)
July 20, 2009 at 3:34 pm

RT @BlackBerryCool: BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 OTA links available http://bit.ly/946CQ
7 Pfuscher (Henry)
July 20, 2009 at 3:35 pm

Works on my BB 8700 with 4.5 OS: RT @BlackBerryCool: BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 OTA links available http://bit.ly/946CQ http://myloc.me/c2YD
8 TapOuTLouD
July 20, 2009 at 8:24 pm

I want to thank you it works good for my storm. I had 1 prob, and installed again and works great. Great job! I will be donating this week
9 Kyle in TO
July 20, 2009 at 11:39 pm

So far so good on my Storm. Looks nice.
10 hemant shah
July 21, 2009 at 12:21 am

I hv installed BBM 5.0 on my 8830 and works well. However link to add new contacts does not work. Also can’t get contact settings n option page. Overall a good messenge. – like it. Any one using 8830 n BBM 5.0 pl share ur experience. Thanks
11 Ken
July 21, 2009 at 12:58 am

The new Blackberry Messenger 5.0 is a leaked version. DO NOT download it, it is causing a lot of problems for people. When installing it it can make you lose your BlackBerry Messenger contacts.
12 tyrone spencer
July 21, 2009 at 1:25 am

I downloaded it to my 8330 curve and it completely wiped my older version in the overwrite process…I looked in applications under options and it’s there, but there is no icon shortcut to activate the app.I have to use desktop mgr to install the old version back on my phone. And of course I didn’t see the caveat until I in stalled it on my phone. Epic fail man.
13 DallasinPcola
July 23, 2009 at 2:31 am

Ken, that’s why you back your stuff!

Leaked versions aren’t bad- typically these have went through alpha, and beta testing.

I’m running a leaked OS with a lot of 5.0 files in it- and it’s the smoothest it’s ever run!

However- the BBM 5.0 is kick butt. i love the bar code scanner function!
14 Julien
August 3, 2009 at 3:56 am

Cool
15 Anthony
August 23, 2009 at 9:56 pm

I downloaded it on my tour ans have had it for about a month now and it works perfect
16 Miranda
August 29, 2009 at 10:13 pm

Is there anyway I could get bbm back on my phone with 4.5.0 os?
17 j
September 20, 2009 at 11:22 am

I installed on my 8330 curve and it works perfectly. It did however wipe my older version but no worries I backed all up 1st. Anyone know if the official release will install as an overwrite to this beta leaked copy?
18 shakiera
October 1, 2009 at 3:07 pm

I try to upload the BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 too and it wiped out the old version now I don’t have a computer the download the old no… It sucks really back coz I didn’t know it was a leaked thing. My friend sent me the link.