A multi-community instant messaging system, device and method are provided. The system includes a plurality of instant messaging communities, a network, and at least one mobile instant messaging device. The mobile instant messaging device provides a user interface for displaying a plurality community-specific icons, each community-specific icon providing an identification of one of the instant message communities. The mobile device also provides a plurality of configuration data files are stored on the device, each configuration data file being associated with one of the community-specific icons, and a common instant messaging application. Upon selecting one of the community-specific icons, the common instant messaging application is configured for use as a community-specific instant messaging application using the associated configuration data file, and may communicate instant messages over the network to the selected instant messaging community.