These do not work, as of yet (please re-read that sentence once again). It appears most of these are almost final, and carrier implementation should start at some point (likely before year end). I'm going to guess that the MSN client is released first, followed by the AIM and ICQ clients (these should be released at the same time).

As seen in the screenshots, these are going to be available in the following locations (subject to change) once they are released (again, subject to carrier compatibility and exclusivity agreements):

MSN: www.blackberry.com/msnmessenger
AIM: www.blackberry.com/aim
ICQ: www.blackberry.com/icq

NOTE: These are NOT available for download, for use, or anything along those lines. Even if you had the clients loaded on your handhelds, THEY WOULD NOT WORK! NO REQUESTS!

Sweet I can't wait to check them out, I know most of my customers want a real featured AIM client

Finally! Been waiting for the MSN one forever.

Jibi, you headed down for the LSU game?

Yep, I have season tickets. Going down tomorrow night and hitting up Sky Bar for a few beers and tailgating a bit then getting a 7:30 AM start on Saturday.

The individual page links are kaput. Are these clients going to use data or SMS's?

Data. Just like Yahoo, and Google Talk

Sweet. Will the client(s) support connections to the carrier/RIM or direct connections? Single or multi socket?

Any word on whether the MSN client will be XBL aware?

No further information known aside from what was posted, short of what we already know due to the releases of Google Talk and Yahoo IM clients (such as data not SMS-based).

I'm guessing they will connect to RIM/carrier then to the networks. Also guessing they will be single-socket until they have a converged IM client (if ever ...seems like a logical step).

Finally. I have been searching for a full featured AIM for sometime and haven't been happy with any of the data apps I've installed yet.

Those screenshots look like they are off a Pearl - is that correct?

Any word on if they will incorporate custom away messages, buddy info, etc? Those are the main features I am trying to find at the moment.

I saw where you said they are "subject to carrier compatibility". So that means they will only work on certain carriers?

I think now I will have to wait before purchasing a new Blackberry. Somehow I have a feeling that T-Mobile will block them since T-Mobile uses the OZ IM program and that uses SMS. They would lose a lot of revenue by offering this.

Are these programs going to be available for download on any blackberry or will they be bundled on new handhelds only?

yes.

see note above - no further information known.

Possibly, correct. For example, some carriers, such as T-Mobile, weren't initially included on the Yahoo IM. Cingular still avoids this particular client. This is usually driven by currently available SMS-based profitable IM clients rather than giving the consumers what they want. I was very surprised to see T-Mobile support the Yahoo client, especially since they turned off 'SMS over GPRS' early in the 7100's lifespan due to the inability to charge you for SMS messages used through their IM client (as well as normal SMS messages). Keep in mind that carriers make an absolute fortune off the out-sourcing of relatively cheap SMS gateway services. All too often, the end-user/consumer is overlooked when it comes to a company's bottom-line.

I'm sure any, as there are mono clients available as well. Not sure on the requirements, though.

Good work jibi! Question though: These ARE public clients, for use by non-corporate clients right?

I had a feeling some of the MSN support was only through BES, working with say, Microsoft corporate "MSN" server..

nice find
that looks awesome, cant wait to get my 8703 from verizon hopefully this will be updated soon and i could take advantage of the im clients.

This is great to hear that our voices are finally heard. I'd actually like to see how this will play out at T-Mobile as well since T-Mobile uses the OZ client for instant messaging.

I was thinking this as well.

These are the IM clients for the public IM clouds, for use by anyone (subject to carrier availability, of course).

Microsoft's Live Communications Server interacts with an end-user using Windows Messenger 5.1 or Office Communicator 2005. The BES side of this is LCS Enterprise Messenger (1.1.11 for Windows Messenger in BES 4.1.1; 1.1.17 for Office Communicator in BES 4.1.2) - you'll notice this client on my applications list (it's named the same for both versions).

MSN, or Windows Live Messenger, is a completely different platform (to an extent) and uses Microsoft's public IM cloud. With that said, there is also a federation option for Office Communicator/LCS that allows connectivity to the various networks' public IM clouds in order to have interoperability with all of the major IM services (AIM, MSN, and Yahoo) through the Office Communicator client. This would add a corporate level solution for the various IM services and any security and audit/logging requirements, if you choose to enable such features. This can get rather expensive for large LCS rollouts, but most large corporations have done so (including mine).

What theme is the blackberry shown using? Its great!

T-Mobile Zen, from the 8100

they gonna cost anything?

Please beat LSU!

(sorry for off-topic content)

In the past, they haven't... I don't see this changing.

I have a good feeling about this weekend. Go over to the Off-Topic forum on here - we have a HUGE thread dedicated to college football, and there are a few of your fellow Gator brethren in there.

Jibi thx for the info! Looking forward to it.

These will be great once released. Thanks again Jibi for the first hand look

awesome... :D

I guess these instant messaging program was suppose to be on the pearl on release date but got pushed back for some reason... I found built in sound control for these programs (I'm using the t-mobile Zen) so for those of you that are curious... just go to "Profiles" then "Advanced..." then hit the menu button and hit "edit" (on any profile I'm assuming) and if you scroll down you'll see "New IM - AIM... ICQ... MSN... Yahoo!" (P.S. I didn't do a search so if anyone else cover this already I apologize...)

Those would be for the OZ program that comes pre-installed on the Pearl.

You're correct, but I also think his assumption is correct as well (just not the evidence to cooberate the assumption). Just not for the 8100, though. I don't see T-Mobile giving up the Oz client anytime soon, and I don't see them allowing MSN and AIM early on, either (perhaps they will after whichever carriers' exclusive periods end, though).

Jibi,

Do you think they even if tmo doesn't support these apps that we would still be able to install and use them if we get a hold of them? They use data so if they leaked would there be any problems using them anyway, even if tmo didnt offer them?

I am in dire need of a decent IM app and everything I have tried does not satisfy me. I like OZ over everything I have tried so far minus the fact its sms, doesnt offer custom away, and doesnt allow reading of away messages. Other than that though, the interface is simple, clean, and effective which is why I am thinking this new AIM app would offer everything not included.

i'm not sure about that one, since they have their own oz version of the app. i think they might not get it, however there must be a way to upgrade though.......my friend has the tmobile sidekick 3 and has the oz apps for im and they seem to work great for him.

Keep in mind that AIM and MSN are the two most popular IM services in the United States. As it was with the Yahoo offering, I'm sure that there will be an exclusive period, although I'm not willing to bet a dime that T-Mobile, and especially Cingular, jumps on board for that exclusive period.

Anyhow, back to your question, no. These IM clients should operate based on service books (guaranteed for the MSN client, as you can read above in the images). The carriers control which service books are sent to the handhelds and which aren't. Someone (no names) has had some success in populating a service book from one handheld to another with a SIM swap method, but I've not heard about this from anyone else (although the reputation behind this someone is unquestionable at this point in time ...and he's a good friend, too). I'd test if I had a Cingular account and an unlocked phone, but I have neither.

hopefully verizon will work with these... they don't seem to push their IM via SMS program as much as tmo does the OZ one..

It's great as long as the wireless carriers don't block its usage from their BB's. I can specifically seeing this happening with T-Mobile because they'd lose money that they generate from their im client using sms instead of data.

what's the expected release date for AIM bb client?

I don't think there has been any mention of n official release date as of yet. I'll be glad when it comes. Hopefully, an os upgrade will integrate it the same way that google talk and BB messenger is with our message box.

never?

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Anyone use the Oz IM client on T-Mo? Just wondering if anyone does, seems the majority of people here us one of the data IM programs out there.