BlackBerry® Messenger is the instant messaging (IM) program that’s unique to BlackBerry smartphone users. You can instantly chat, send and receive pictures, and set your availability status using a familiar desktop IM look and feel—all from your BlackBerry smartphone.
A new version of BlackBerry Messenger will soon be available. We’ve been trying a leaked version of BBM 5.0 for a couple of months now and we couldn’t be more impressed with the new features:
Enhanced SMS -Allows for a conversational chat-like user experience with a single contact list for the most personal mobile-to-mobile communications
Avatars -Users can choose a picture from the BlackBerry Smartphone gallery and save it as their personal avatar, which will be seen by their contacts. They can also view other avatars in the contact list and zoom in on the avatars of contacts participating in a conversation by selecting “View participants.”
Large Media File Transfer -Users can send/receive large file transfers up to 6 megabytes for pictures, files and audio.
Enhanced Group Functionality -Allows for the ability to update, share & communicate with a subset community.
Bar-code Identity -A user can add a contact to the BlackBerry Messenger contact list by displaying a 2-dimensional bar code that invitees can capture with their device cameras.
Reliable Contact Backup and Restore -Contacts are backed-up on a server and do not require the need for BlackBerry® Desktop Manager.
French 2d barcode company Mobile Tag announced new Mobile Tag barcode reading software for BlackBerry. The software uses the BlackBerry Bold’s video recording features to actively sample the barcode and process the tag’s info. Other BlackBerry models use their camera feature and require the user to “snap” a barcode scan. Contact tags are used to securely exchange contact info. Web tags are used for promotion from billboards, magazines and web pages, providing more info, and even managing virtual coupons.
Infinite Peripherals offers a number of hardware solutions for enterprise companies. There’s a printer cradle you can slot your BlackBerry into and print directly from it, plus all manner of SmartCard readers and barcode scanners. They also offer accessories like leather holsters with belt clips and carrying cases. Most of their products are for the older 7000-series BlackBerrys, so hopefully we’ll see some support for newer models at WES.
Scanbuy has announced that their 2D barcode scanning app for cameraphones is now available for BlackBerry. Using their software, you can now take pictures of particular barcodes similar to those being worked into airports with your Pearl or Curve to access related content like music, pictures and information. They’ve already got a bunch of partners doing some pretty interesting things with the technology, such as the Paris Metro which delivers point of interest and transit information using the barcodes, and Codilink who’s using it to deliver and redeem coupons. There are a lot of great opportunities for this kind of stuff, that’s for sure.
Air Canada said the mobile-check in service, which is available at www.mobile.aircanada.com, has been improved to enable customers to receive an electronic boarding pass in SMS form, which can be shown to airport security screen staff and Air Canada gate agents, rather than a paper board pass. … According to the airline, the mobile boarding pass uses recent, secure mobile and 2-D barcode technologies to help simplify the travel experience for its customers. The customer enters information such as their name, departure city and their Aeroplan number, booking reference or credit card number and then enters their mobile number to receive the pass if their device supports 2-D barcode technology.
Not only BlackBerrys, but PDAs, Treos, and standard mobile phones which can display a 2D barcode will now be able to have their 
