Imagine taking part in a Web group discussion designed to deliver your Cartesian product to alien investor . You ’re in New York , and your potential investor are in London . Your partner and independent presenter is in San Francisco . While you ’re listening in , you realize a key point in time that he should make .
You pull out your BlackBerry , go to BlackBerry Messenger and send your partner an crying message : " Todd , you could tie that really well to return on investiture . " The immediate response is : " Got it . Will do . " Message sent and pick up without the investors being aware , full stop made , and the conference moves on to your company ’s vantage .
Or imagine persist into heavy dealings on the way to an out - of - townspeople family line gathering . You recognize you ’ll be late , but you do n’t lie with who to call . You practice BlackBerry Messenger to contact several relation at once with an apology and reckon arrival time . " That ’s OK , " your sister message back . " We ’re stuck in the same passel . Just keep us post . " Your pappa responds with : " We ’ll just wait for you here at the restaurant . "
BlackBerry Messenger gives BlackBerry users a quick , easy way to post clamant messages to each other using their PIN computer code . It ’s free and , unlike with tocopherol - postal service , users can carry on several conversations at the same time . They also can claver with a grouping , see contact lens ' accessibility , commit files and track message status .
What are the features of BlackBerry Messenger ? How does instant messaging with your BlackBerry work ? And , what are the advantages and disadvantages of BlackBerry Messenger ? Go to the next pageboy to find out .
Advantages and Disadvantages of BlackBerry Messenger
BlackBerry Messenger can be a definite asset , if you want to change message with other Blackberry users . With it , you may :
[ source : BlackBerry Connection , BlackBerry Messenger User Guide andCrackBerry ]
One disadvantage of BlackBerry Messenger is that you ca n’t send an instant subject matter to someone unless you know his or her PIN computer code , the eight - digit letter of the alphabet - and - number code assigned to that particular Blackberry twist .
However , the large disadvantage of BlackBerry Messenger may be that it only earmark you to exchange instant messages with other BlackBerry users . Introduced in other 2006 as a feature of BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1 , BlackBerry Messenger is n’t compatible with popular IMing political platform . That ’s because it works other than .
With most instantaneous message services , you download software that becomes the node on your computer or smartphone . That client connects to the provider ’s server , using a proprietary protocol for communication . Once you ’ve logged on , the guest post the host your connection selective information ( IP address ) , your calculator port turn and the names of everyone on your middleman inclination .
The server creates a temporary file with connection selective information for you and your contacts . Then the server determine which physical contact are logged on and sends that information to your guest , as well as letting the impinging know you ’re useable . After that , the server is no longer involved , and all communication is between your client and that of your message receiver .
With BlackBerry Messenger , however , the server stays involved as it would if you were commit eastward - postal service . All communications go through parent - party Research in Motion ’s host as you continue to exchange messages . That also means you ca n’t apply BlackBerry Messenger unless you have a BlackBerry cyberspace plan , or data point plan [ source : CrackBerry ] .
Next , let ’s explore what else you ’ll require to get started with BlackBerry Messenger and its basic office .
Getting Started with BlackBerry Messenger
BlackBerry Messenger does n’t require much set - up , particularly as it comes preloaded on newer good example . With an older BlackBerry model , you ’ll have to do a BlackBerry Messenger download . No matter what , here ’s what you ’ll postulate to use BlackBerry Messenger :
With the software installed , you ’re ready to lumber on . The first clock time , you ’ll be asked to pick a display name to identify yourself while IMing and to create a password . Once you do that , you ’ll be logged automatically into BlackBerry Messenger whenever your machine is connected to your wireless connection . Once you establish your contact list , you could transport and experience messages .
Adding Contacts
BlackBerry Messenger ’s physical contact leaning render your single contacts and touch groups . Before you may IM with someone , you have to invite him to link your contact list and request permission to exchange messages . you may do this with existing contacts in your BlackBerry address book by following these step :
Contacts who are n’t in your BlackBerry address book also necessitate to be added there . Here ’s how to send those contacts invitations :
Once the contact accepts your invitation , he ’ll be added mechanically to your contact leaning . Invitations that contacts institutionalize to you will appear on the Contact List screenland . To accept a request , select it , click the trackwheel , and then click " Open " and " Accept . " To deny the petition , use the same process but get across " Decline " or else of " Accept . "
Sending and Receving Messages
To send an IM , cluck a impinging ’s name on the Contact List . Then click " Start Conversation " and typewrite your message . Finish by clicking the Enter paint .
To join an existing conversation , go to the Contact List and press a impinging in the Existing Conversations list . Then click " Open Conversation . "
To add contacts to a conversation or start a conference , cluck on the trackwheel during a conversation . Then select " Invite " to invite more contact to participate .
To end a conversation , select the trackwheel during the conversation and then clack " End Conversation . "
Once you ’ve mastered the basics , you ’re quick to explore more advanced functions of BlackBerry Messenger like managing contacts and groups or set your availableness status and alarm . have ’s appear next at some functions that make IMing fast and light .
BlackBerry Messenger Functions
With BlackBerry Messenger , it ’s leisurely to deal contacts , to indicate your accessibility , to " ping " a liaison and to execute other functions . Here ’s how some of these piece of work .
Managing Contacts
Perhaps you ’d wish to habituate BlackBerry Messenger to see a contact ’s info . All you need to do is go to the Contact List screen , press the touch ’s name , and chatter " Contact Info . "
Or maybe you ’d like to remove an individual striking from your link list . To do so , go to the Contact List screen , and chatter on the middleman ’s name . After that , get through on " Delete Contact " and then " Delete . "
Beyond treating your contact severally , BlackBerry Messenger lets you assemble them into chemical group and then make do those groups . For example :
Availability Status
Your availability status indicate your liaison whether you want to switch IMs ( useable ) or not ( Unavailable ) at any yield time . BlackBerry Messenger will automatically change your position in some casing . It ’ll , for case , show a Busy ikon if you ’re doing something else on your BlackBerry or if you have not react to a substance received in the past two second . An Unreachable image will be prove if you ’re using the telephone set or in an orbit without enough wireless coverage .
But you may also shift your own status and leave a substance for contact . To change your status , go to the Contact List screen , and click " usable " or " Unavailable . " Type the message you require contact to see when they IM you , and get through " OK . " If you choose " Unavailable , " you ’ll still receive messages but you wo n’t be apprize when they arrive .
Notifications and Pings
you’re able to use notification to alert you of an incoming instant message by hold your BlackBerry vibrate or emit a note . you may set and change notifications in your BlackBerry Messenger profile . Go to the Profiles tilt , snap on a visibility , and click " Edit . " press a notification option ( like " Messenger – New subject matter " ) , and chatter " Edit . " Set the option you want ( like " Vibrate - Tone " ) and set the desire volume ; click the trackwheel , and click " Save . "
Beyond your own setting , you could " ping " someone who is n’t responding by making their BlackBerry vibrate when you send a subject matter . Just click the trackwheel in BlackBerry Messenger , and clack " Ping Contact . " If you need to turn off the ping role on your own twist , go to the Contact List screen , click " selection " and select the box before " reset the Vibrate When Receiving a Ping . "
More Functions
Here are a few more subroutine to try :
BlackBerry Messenger can keep you in cutaneous senses with other BlackBerry exploiter . But what if you want to exchange instant message with other contact ? We ’ll look next at what your options are .
Alternative Messaging Options for BlackBerry Devices
BlackBerry Messenger has you in ghost with your BlackBerry - using friends and colleagues , but what about everyone else ? you’re able to practice other option to IM with them from your BlackBerry . One choice is to pick one of the major crying messaging services that supply an app for the Blackberry – and most of them do . Among these are :
Each app bid unlike functions . The vantage is that you’re able to extend an IM Robert William Service that you already use to your BlackBerry , add peregrine handiness and peradventure access your contact list for that servicing . To use any of these , you ’ll need to download the program directly to your BlackBerry – or to your computer and then instal it on your BlackBerry . And you need to check whether the service you want is useable through your wireless supplier .
The disadvantage of these is that you could only gossip with others who use that avail . To solve that problem , you’re able to go to a service that offers messaging for multiple providers simultaneously . JiveTalk , EQO and WebMessenger are three that offer BlackBerry service . But they ’re not all devoid .
JiveTalk is n’t innocent , but it supply connections to AIM , Yahoo , MSN , Google Talk , ICQ , Jabber and MySpace IM . A non - transferable permit for one BlackBerry gadget costs $ 19.95 and include free software upgrades . But swap to a novel BlackBerry , and you ’ll want to get another permit . A $ 29.95 user license can be transferred to a new equipment .
EQOoffers release IMing with connection to MSN , AIM , Yahoo ! , Google Talk , QQ , ICQ and Jabber . The troupe also offers – and tutelage for – text edition messaging and VoIP calling .
WebMessengeris a hosted service that can be used to access AOL , MSN , Yahoo , Google Talk , ICQ and Jabber networks from a BlackBerry or other mobile gimmick . While the party offer a monthly or yearly subscription divine service , WebMessenger Business - Class Service is loose .
More instant messaging choice are becoming available for the BlackBerry as engineering evolves and IMing becomes a more widely used business shaft . For the latest offering , be sure to checker theBlackBerryWeb website .
For lots more information on BlackBerry Messenger and related matter , see the helpful links on the next Thomas Nelson Page .
