not really a shortcut, but once your in blackberry messenger hit the menu key and the key "p" it will take you to ping contact and all you have to do is press enter
I also created a handful of AutoText entries for the smiley's. Like typing 'sm' and then space will give me the regular smiley. No having to press the SYM key 2 or 3 times.
__________________ No longer a BES Admin, but it was fun while it lasted!