The new version of QuickIM (2.1) works for users that have blocked ports , it just needs the standard SMTP and POP3 ports open to work. Some new features include chat transcript saving, picture viewer etc.

For those who don't know QuickIM, it's a MSN compatible instant messenger that connects directly to MSN without annual subscription fee . It can be found on http://www.quickim.com

I recently purchased 2.0 not too long ago. I like it! Works great, data friendly I don't have the issues I had with Verichat. It's aftermarket software though and this is the RIM software forum... perhaps a Mod could move this to the right spot.

Still not working with Telus non BES. Just tried it.

Singapore has GPRS penetrating every corner of the street, but the chances of me getting QuickIM connected on my BB71290 (with ver 4 OS) are only 20%. Few error scenarios have been encountered:

1) Network & Connection error after about 20~30 secs.
2) Successful connection to `Presence Server' (shown on phone) but have login failure.
3) Successful network & login, but during downloading of contacts, it gets disconnected and connection error pops up again.

Once connected, it can be very stable running in the background. But if there is an incoming phone call, it may disconnect QuickIM, and then the above scenarios may repeat. To get it connected, I have to go to the settings and just click the SAVE button without changing the entries, as if I am resetting the settings.

It would appear to me that BB is trying to block out 3rd party program which they dont support, because Yahoo IM gets connected immediately, unlike QuickIM which takes about a minute in total.