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Add Your BBM Code to Your Facebook Profile

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So you got a new BlackBerry handheld device and is now starting to explore the great BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). The problem is you don’t know of any friends who are as cool as you who happen to have a BlackBerry phone as well. So that renders your cool BB Pin and BBM useless. Here’s a good news. Why not start sharing your PIN to others? Put it in your Facebook profile. Sounds good right?

A new BlackBerry Facebook app just became available, allowing you to put your BBM QR Code to your Facebook profile so that other BBM users who happen to be in your Facebook network can scan it and add you to their BBM buddy list.

It’s a pretty clever idea. Something that I would definitely want to try since I really haven’t maximized the use of my BBM since I got my BlackBerry phone.

To try this one out, just head over to the bb_barcodegenerator app on Facebook. You will be asked for your BlackBerry PIN, choose a layout for your BB QR Code, then have the app generate it for you. From there you can opt to display the QR Code on your Facebook profile, either in the sidebar or overlaid onto your profile picture. Then wait till your friends and others within who can view your profile scan it and add you to their BBM list. Then you can start chatting away.

The barcode generator works with BBM running on version 5.0. So if your phone’s BBM is still on an earlier version, now may be the right time to update.

Via IntoMobile

Skype Now Available for All Nokia Smartphones

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Skype and Nokia’s partnership has been going for quite some time now. In fact, their plans of integrating Skype to Nokia devices has been discussed as early as February last year. Although Nokia devices were able to get a default Skype client it is only now that it is finally made available for majority of Nokia’s smartphones – specifically those running on Symbian ^1.

Skype for Symbian will let you to use Skype even while on the move, either through WiFi, GPRS, EDGE or 3G.  Skype for Symbian is now available for download at the Nokia Ovi Store and you can install it on your smartphone if it belongs to the following long list of Nokia devices that support it:

Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia 5530 and the following non-touch devices: Nokia E72, Nokia E71, Nokia E90, Nokia E63, Nokia E66, Nokia E51, Nokia N96, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8Gb, Nokia N85, Nokia N82, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8 Gb, Nokia N79, Nokia N78, Nokia 6220 classic, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 5320.

If your current Nokia phone is any of those devices listed, then you can enjoy the following features of Skype on your device:

  • Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world
  • Save money on calls and texts (SMS) to phones abroad.
  • Send and receive instant messages to and from individuals or groups
  • Share pictures, videos and other files.
  • Receive calls to their existing online number
  • See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or IM
  • Easily import names and numbers from the phone’s address book

Of course before you go on a Skype holiday, make sure that you are subscribe to an unlimited data plan, since even though Skype-to-Skype call is free, you are still using up air time of your mobile carriers.

You may download Skype for Symbian by following this link.

Via The Skype Blog

Facebook Connects Chat Client to AOL, Other IM Platforms

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If Google is going social with Google Buzz, Facebook’s chat facility is going towards that feature too, in a more subtle way. The Official Facebook Blog just announced that Facebook chat now integrates with various popular IM clients, including AOL’s.

What this simply means is that you can now stay connected with your Facebook friends through chat, even if you navigate away from Facebook.com.  In fact, you don’t even have to stay logged in to Facebook just to chat with your Facebook buddies. Chat messages can now be sent to your desktop IM client. This new feature will also let you control how and where you chat with your friends. You can also select  which of your online friends you would like to appear online by adjusting some settings on your Friend Lists.

This new feature uses Jabber XMPP, which is actually an open messaging protocol supported by most IM platforms. Some of these IM clients include – iChat, Pidgin, Adium, Miranda and more. So, if you’re using any of those IM clients, you can now start chatting with your Facebook friends using any of the said IM facility.

To connect Facebook chat with your existing IM clients, click on the “Connect your IM” link on this site tour, select your IM client and follow the instructions for setting up your account. Then, enjoy chatting with your Facebook friends while you surf the web, just like your ordinary desktop chat facility.

Meebo aggregates real-time interactions on MySpace and Facebook

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Meebo has integrated MySpace and Facebook instant messaging access into Meebo.com. Driven by requests within Meebo’s 40 million-plus user community, this makes Meebo the first web application that enables real-time access to the world’s most popular social networks and instant messaging services.

“Today’s announcement reflects Meebo’s long-time goal of offering open access to all IM and social networking users, as well as providing them with the best IM experience possible,” said Seth Sternberg, CEO and co-founder, Meebo. “People have friends across a variety of different social networks, and Meebo is a place where they can come for real-time social interactions with these friends, at any time.”