The new BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 has recently been leaked. It appears to function on BlackBerry OS 4.5 through BlackBerry OS 5.1. This new messenger will also function on the touchscreen Storm.
According to Phone Arena, with the new BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 users can create an avatar using an image of themselves which will then be displayed on their handset as well as next to their names on a friend’s phone.
The phone settings can be changed to allow users the discretion to let their friends know where they are all the time, only upon request, or never. If users have set their BlackBerry devices to share location with their friends then the proximity sensor will reveal how close users are to their friends.
Additionally, messenger contacts can now be placed directly on the homescreen. There is also a bar-code feature present which enables users to add contact numbers without the need to key it in themselves.