The latest version of Facebook for BlackBerry is not only faster than previous releases, it also has a bunch of new features that make the app more on par with what the iPhone and Android clients offer: a new navigation bar, enhanced listings for friends and Pages, Facebook Search and a dedicated inbox.
Facebook for Blackberry 1.9 is available through the BlackBerry Beta Zone, which is free with signup
Here are some of the highlights of the new version:
Dedicated Inbox - You can now choose to view your Facebook messages within your BlackBerry messages inbox or in its own separate inbox just for Facebook.
Facebook Messages are also now synchronized with the inbox on the web.
Facebook Search - You can search for individuals and Pages and then send a friend request to individuals or "Like" a Page if you so choose.
BlackBerry 6 users can get Facebook info from the universal search widget now, too.
Updated Friends and Page Lists - Friends and Pages are now organized in tabs and include thumbnails so that you can select a friend or Page to access to see individual information or updates.
We're glad RIM is keeping Facebook for BlackBerry updated. In a pre-iPhone universe, the Facebook app for BlackBerry was actually one of the best. It's fallen behind the competition a bit, but we appreciate how RIM strives to keep Facebook integrated with other aspects of the OS.