Kik recently updated their text messaging application for BlackBerry smartphones. No new features were added in the latest version but if you’ve experienced issues with performance or battery life, you should definitely update. Here’s their note for the latest version:

via Kik

RIM is at CES 2012 and pulling out all the stops to show off upcoming software releases like BlackBerry 7.1 and BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0. In one of their latest videos they show off new features included in PlayBook OS 2.0 like messaging, calendar and contacts apps, and more. Here’s the video’s official description:

At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Michael Clewley and Jeff Gadway from Research In Motion walk through a few of the features of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 that create an intuitive and intelligent communications experience. A unified inbox, as well as socially integrated calendar and contacts applications, are just a few of the features of PlayBook OS 2.0.

Check out the preview video above and let us know what you think in the comments or in the forums!

Those of you that enjoy BBM alternatives will be happy to know that PingChat! received a big update and has been rebranded as Touch. Version 3.0 of Touch includes a complete redesign of the original app, making it a lot lighter in color. Here is a full list of changes:

• PingChat! has evolved into Touch
• New name: Touch
• Brand new icon and design!
• Re-developed the entire experience and technology from the ground up to provide an intimate, simple, yet powerful experience to stay in touch with close friends and family
• Message your friends through Chats that feel like you are talking in person
• Share your life with those closest to you through Experiences that make the distance fade away
• Don’t worry - your account, contacts and conversations will be preserved when you update
• Enjoy!

For more info and to get the app go to touch.com or search for it in BlackBerry App World.

It’s been a while since I last mentioned the free imo.im instant messaging website and app but since then it’s the only IM service I’ve used. It’s clean, supports a lot of IM services like Google Talk, Facebook Chat, Steam Chat, AIM and more, it works well online and on BlackBerry and best of all, it’s free! Version 1.1.1 was released for BlackBerry smartphones today with sleep scheduling and morse code. Here are IMO’s benefits of morse code for instant messaging:

• Its fun!
• No need to look at your phone during meetings, dinner etc. Leave your phone in your pocket and know who messages you
• Checking off “Learning Morse Code” from your To-Do list
• Preserving an old-fashioned way of communicating

You can set the morse code option to send the:

• First three initials of your buddy OR
• Full name of your buddy OR
• Full name of your buddy + message

For more info and to get the free IMO app for BlackBerry go to imo.im/blackberry. I’ve included the changelog from version 1.0.5 to 1.0.9 below.

VERSION 1.0.5 to 1.0.9 CHANGELOG!

RIM announced on their Inside BlackBerry blog that they’re releasing version 6.0.1 of BlackBerry Messenger today. The last update to BBM was posted in the BlackBerry Beta Zone earlier this month. Changes for today’s release of version 6.0.1.32 include:

• Explore BBM-connected Apps
• Sharing App content with your BBM Contacts is easier
• Include BBM v5.0 users in application invites
• And more!

The new version isn’t available in BlackBerry App World yet so keep refreshing if you want to get it that way. For more info and to get the latest version of BBM go to blackberry.com/bbm, which includes a direct download of 6.0.1.32 if you don’t want to wait for the App World version to refresh.

Full changelog below. Don’t forget to let us know how this version works for you in the comments or in the forums!

BBM 6.0.1 CHANGELOG!

RIM today announced that NewBay, a leader in digital content services, is now part of RIM’s acquisitions portfolio. Here’s the announcement from the Inside BlackBerry Blog:

Today we are pleased to announce that NewBay has joined Research In Motion (RIM). We’re excited that the NewBay team will be bringing their expertise in cloud-based digital content services to the BlackBerry platform.

NewBay’s LifeCache platform helps enable operators and device makers to deliver content across multiple, connected devices such as mobile phones, PCs and tablets.

If you are not already familiar with them, you can find out more about NewBay here: http://newbay.com/.

– Alan Brenner, SVP, BlackBerry Platform

With an expertise in mobile social networking, content in the cloud, smart address book, photo & video albums and next generation messaging, it will be interesting to see how RIM integrates NewBay in the BlackBerry Platform. What do you think about this acquisition?

via IBB

Facebook yesterday announced the launch of Facebook Messenger for BlackBerry smartphones. If you already use the official Facebook for BlackBerry app and use its chat feature, you don’t really need to download Facebook’s unless all you want to do is chat since it’s pretty much the same thing. Some info on Facebook Messenger:

• Reach friends right on their phones
  Now you can send messages directly to your friends on their mobile phones, so you stay in touch no matter where you go. Message friends or anyone in your mobile contacts.
• Get and send messages fast
  With the new standalone Messenger app, now messaging with friends is faster than ever. Messages are delivered instantly, and they’re always just a click away.
• Make plans with groups on the go
  Group conversations make it easy to message everyone at once and see where your friends are. Don’t want to share your location? Turn it off with one click.

For more info and to get the app go to fb.me/msgr. Anyone going to use this app instead of RIM’s Facebook app which includes chat, or do you think it’s not worth the download? Let us know in the comments or in the forums and don’t forget to like BlackBerryRocks.com on Facebook!

via Fb

Last week I let you know that Kik Messenger was available again for BlackBerry smartphones. Today the Kik team let me know they’ve “officially” released version 5.2, available for BlackBerry smartphones. I say “officially” because the version I mentioned last week was a beta and this app isn’t an official BlackBerry app in the traditional sense since it was built for Java ME capable phones. Here’s a bit from the press release:

Kik Messenger, which already has millions of users, now offers free text communication between all three of the top smartphone platforms, over 87% of the US Smartphone market. When originally launched just over a year ago, Kik Messenger reached 1 million downloads in 15 days by connecting users across smartphone platforms with a more engaging text messaging experience than SMS or other competitors could provide.

The new app was designed from the ground up without using the normal developer tools and kits in an effort to streamline the app and provide the very best user experience. Because Kik built the entire app from scratch, the company was able to implement features such as popup notifications and a beautiful, smooth UI that aren’t native to many phones that run Java ME apps.

For more info and to get the app go to kik.com/bb or check out the full press release below!

FULL PRESS RELEASE!