Blackberry® For Dummies®, 4th Edition

Chapter 10. Instant Messaging on BlackBerry Messenger

In This Chapter

• Getting familiar with BlackBerry Messenger

• Group chatting

• Sending files

• Group chatting

• Broadcasting a message with your BlackBerry

In Chapter 9, you find a slew of ways to send messages on your BlackBerry. In this chapter, you get the scoop on another way to send messages, using a special application known and loved by BlackBerry users.

Research in Motion (RIM) has entered the IM (instant messaging) horse race in the form of a spirited filly named (you guessed it) BlackBerry Messenger. This application is based on the PIN-to-PIN messaging technology (refer to Chapter 9), which means that it is mucho fast and quite reliable.

Note

However, with BlackBerry Messenger, you can chat with only those buddies who have a BlackBerry and have PIN-to-PIN messaging enabled. The application supports IM features common to many other applications, such as group chatting and the capability to monitor the availability of other IM buddies.

Using BlackBerry Messenger

You can access BlackBerry Messenger in the Instant Messaging folder from the Home screen, as shown in Figure 10-1. The first time you run BlackBerry Messenger, a welcome screen asks you to enter your display name. This display name is the one you want other people to see on their BlackBerry Messenger when you send them a message.

Figure 10.1. Launch BlackBerry Messenger here.

You see ...