A method of providing notifications of new unread message events on a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being configured for instant messaging services and email services executable on the device, comprising: displaying at least a first icon (304, 306, 308) and a second icon (310, 312), relating respectively to a first electronic instant messaging application (IM1, IM2) and a first electronic e-mail messaging application (310, 312), each being installed on the wireless communication device, on a graphical user interface of the wireless communication device, the first and second icons (304, 306, 308, 310, 312) being selectable to invoke the respective first instant messaging (IM1, IM2) application and the first electronic e-mail messaging application (EMAIL1, EMAIL 2); receiving into an electronic instant messaging application, on the wireless communication device, a first electronic message being a new instant message, the new instant message being associated, respectively, with the first electronic instant messaging application (IM1, IM2); receiving a second electronic message, the second electronic message being an email message and being associated with the electronic e-mail messaging application (EMAIL 1, EMAIL 2) installed on the wireless communication device; responsive to receiving said at least one of the first and second electronic messages, using a dedicated monitoring component for each of the instant messaging applications (IM1, IM2) and the electronic email messaging application (EMAIL 1, EMAIL2) to determine the occurrence of respective new events; visually modifying, respectively, at least one of the first icon (302, 304) and the second icon (306, 308, 310) to include an updated increased count (802, 804) of received electronic messages which remain unread for the related first or second electronic messaging application (302, 304, 306, 310, 312); for the instant messaging application providing in addition to unread message information, additional state information relevant to the instant messaging application, the additional state information including one of: whether a user is signed in, the state of the connection, and a current state of the user; and displaying on the graphical user interface an identifier associated with at least one correspondent from whom said at least one of the first and second electronic messages was received. displaying at least a first icon (304, 306, 308) and a second icon (310, 312), relating respectively to a first electronic instant messaging application (IM1, IM2) and a first electronic e-mail messaging application (310, 312), each being installed on the wireless communication device, on a graphical user interface of the wireless communication device, the first and second icons (304, 306, 308, 310, 312) being selectable to invoke the respective first instant messaging (IM1, IM2) application and the first electronic e-mail messaging application (EMAIL1, EMAIL 2); receiving into an electronic instant messaging application, on the wireless communication device, a first electronic message being a new instant message, the new instant message being associated, respectively, with the first electronic instant messaging application (IM1, IM2); receiving a second electronic message, the second electronic message being an email message and being associated with the electronic e-mail messaging application (EMAIL 1, EMAIL 2) installed on the wireless communication device; responsive to receiving said at least one of the first and second electronic messages, using a dedicated monitoring component for each of the instant messaging applications (IM1, IM2) and the electronic email messaging application (EMAIL 1, EMAIL2) to determine the occurrence of respective new events; visually modifying, respectively, at least one of the first icon (302, 304) and the second icon (306, 308, 310) to include an updated increased count (802, 804) of received electronic messages which remain unread for the related first or second electronic messaging application (302, 304, 306, 310, 312); for the instant messaging application providing in addition to unread message information, additional state information relevant to the instant messaging application, the additional state information including one of: whether a user is signed in, the state of the connection, and a current state of the user; and displaying on the graphical user interface an identifier associated with at least one correspondent from whom said at least one of the first and second electronic messages was received.