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Connecting with BlackBerry Messenger

Community Manager on 08-05-2009 09:45 AM

About two years ago we were visiting a local park with our son when he met a new little friend.  It was the first time we had seen our son, who was two at the time, play with another child, as opposed to beside another child. We were excited to see how well they played together, as were the other boy's parents. Over the course of a few visits to the park we eventually exchanged phone numbers with the other parents so that we could arrange a future play-date.  Neither us nor the other parents ever got around to calling. However, at the park, later that summer, we were talking about our BlackBerry® smartphones and decided to exchange PINs so we could chat over BlackBerry® Messenger.


From that moment on we began messaging each other about when  we were going to the park; we organized play-dates; and weekend excursions to museums or theme parks all via IM! We could have done this by picking up the telephone but there was something  less obtrusive about Messenger. We could message and reply at any time,  unlike a telephone call where there is the potential to call at an inconvenient time for the other party. Using Messenger made organizing and meeting up simple and easy. Two years later, my son continues to be friends with the other boy and my husband and I are great friends with the parents. I credit Messenger for our friendship!


Messenger is a great way to connect with your friends who have a BlackBerry smartphone. If you are new to BlackBerry devices or have never used Messenger this will get you started:

 

Using BlackBerry Messenger


• Find BlackBerry Messenger, hint it looks like this (and may reside in your Instant Messaging folder) 

blackberrymessenger.jpg

• Your first time using BlackBerry Messenger you will be asked for a display name (this is the name that will show up on your friend's contact list), and a password.
 
To add contacts to Messenger:
•  From the Contact List screen click the Menu button - looks like this:   menu_key_bb_bullets_39752_11.jpg
• Click "Add a Contact"
• This box will pop up:
 Add Contact
• Type an email address, name or PIN, press enter key.
 
Note:  You can only add a 'name' if the individual is listed in your address book with a valid email address.


How to find your PIN on your BlackBerry smartphone: Options (wrench), Status
 
Can you credit your BlackBerry with making a new friend?
 
If you don't have IM on your BlackBerry:
 
BlackBerry Messenger for Software Versions 4.0 and 4.1
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/features/im/blackberry_messenger.jsp
 
You can download other IM clients here:
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/features/im/

Comments
by Murphdog on 08-14-2009 07:56 PM

i just bought a blackberry 8320 from a friend

please help i am stumped...i just got my first blackberry for blackberry messanger to chatt with someone in another country on the cheap...and then come to find out it dosent have BB messanger on it and i cant download it? any suggestions on what to do or how to get it would be great... thankyou and any help would be much appritiated

by Community Manager on 08-18-2009 08:56 PM

@murphdog check out thispost by Thundergeek  - make sure you choose to include BlacKBerry messenger in the update.

 

by qwkslvr on 08-20-2009 01:00 PM

BB IM is cool 'coz emoticons work on it!!

by Ronny78 on 08-23-2009 10:08 PM
why can't my personal blackberry device download  bb messenger 4.0 and 4.1 it's not that old of a phone and it says my blackberry curve 8330 doesn't support 4.0 or 4.1 can you tell me what i have to do to be able to use my bb messenger when messaging someone that has  a blackberry storm.
by Community Manager on 08-24-2009 02:28 PM

@ronny78 You will also need to follow the directions given to murphdog above. Your BlackBerry Messenger needs to match your Device Software version. You likely have a newer software.

Go to this link and when you go through the update choose BlackBerry Messenger as in Section 6-1. 

by Leopardlady14(anon) on 08-31-2009 11:53 AM

I am trying to use my BB Messenger. It keeps saying "Please enter your name as you would like others to see it" It gives me the option of "yes" or "cancel" if I select Yes, it says "Your name cannot be empty". If I select cancel, it closes the app. The menu option is not functionalble in this app.

 

Can anyone help?

by alex1982 on 08-31-2009 03:19 PM
Does anyone know if there is a way you can search your phonebook contacts to see if they are using a blackberry and instant messenger?
by Jaycoz on 09-02-2009 01:20 PM
can someone please help me i recently purchased a unlocked phone on ebay the phone is on a vodaphone network but being unlocked i put my orange network sim into the phone i cant access my facebook or emails how do i set this up ive been to a orange local shop and they said to contact blackberry, does any one know what to do
by Pratt(anon) on 09-03-2009 10:40 AM
What is the benefit of using BBMessenger over just a regualr text?
by prattman62 on 09-03-2009 11:46 AM

Newbie, and just wondering the pros vs cons on using BB Messenger vs just using regualr texting.

 

Thank-you

by mdktsydney(anon) on 09-04-2009 10:58 PM

It is indeed a great application. However, some (myself included) are experiencing issues in adding contacts into Blackberry Messenger. One such discussion (without solution) is given below.

 

http://forums.crackberry.com/f79/can-t-add-contact-blackberry-messenger-help-62373/

 

It'd be great if RIM could provide some support/upgrade on this matter.

 

by porridge on 09-06-2009 03:45 PM
What are the advantages of using IM over a MMS or email message in sending a picture/file?
by Elite II on 09-10-2009 12:05 PM
@prattman62
BB Messenger is an instant messenger just like Live Messenger, Yahoo!Messenger, AOL Messenger or ICQ. It is only available to BlackBerry device owners.

Like any other instant messenging system, it is free to use if you use a data plan, meaning you can send thousands of messages to anyone on the planet for free.

@alex1982
There is no way from a phone number to know what device they are using, except asking them directly.

@jaycoz
your BlackBerry device may be SIM-unlocked (meaning you can phone using your Orange SIM card), but it has to be BIS-unlocked if you want to use the data features of your device. That can be done by the previous carrier (= vodafone) and is usually done by the previous owner, if he is a serious eBay seller.

@Leopardlady14
when you get to that screen, try moving the cursor to something else than those two buttons, and you will be able to type your nickname.
by Simon Davies(anon) on 09-22-2009 04:30 PM

easy way to find your pin 0 create a new mesage (messneger or email) and type "mypin" (no quotes) press space and your pin is revealed

 

Same applies to myver - verson of firmware deployed

 

Benefits iver text messaging

its part of your data plan

longer messages

send pics, geo location, voice notes, pings, contact cards, 

 

its very good

by jjparker(anon) on 09-24-2009 06:24 PM
Can my employer track or log my BB Messenger IMs on the phone they provided?
by DianaI on 09-26-2009 03:19 PM
Hey! I need help. Im trying to log on into my instant messaging but it doesnt let me it tells me "Connection error: Please ensure device time is correct" i dont know what that means or what to do?? Can you please help me?
by Elite II on 10-02-2009 12:19 PM
@DianaI : what time is displayed on your home screen ? BlackBerry Messenger believes the time is not correct.
by jmn on 10-11-2009 02:30 AM
my BB messenger icon disappear, and still when i push the BB button (left) and select Switch Application i can access it... what's the issue, and how can i bring it back Home?
by Security on 10-13-2009 09:42 AM

Hi prattman62,

 

I was told it allows you to 'text' other BB users at no charge.  It's one of the awesome things about BB.  I am still battling to set mine up but I have seen it in action and it's BRILLIANT.

by Han(anon) on 10-21-2009 11:18 AM

hi , i have HTC HD , i need to send a instant messages to my girlfriend BB messenger , is there a way ?

by Elite II on 11-11-2009 05:04 PM

@Han : you can send her SMS, or ICQ, or MSN messages.

by Petra(anon) on 11-11-2009 07:27 PM

I have a blackberry pearl 8100 and I just lost my Blackberry Messenger icon. Can please someone help me with the add of the icon? thank you.!

by BBAEGOS on 11-19-2009 11:23 AM

Hi, I just downloaded the new bb mesenger 5.0 and my telephone got too slow. Please I would like to uninstal this and instal my old aplication. My BB is 8330 model. Thks

by Elite II on 11-20-2009 10:00 AM

@BBAEGOS : you will have to install a complete OS on your device. Please go on the forum and look at the tutorial in the "BlackBerry Device Software" board.

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About the Author
  • Michelle is the Community Manager for the BlackBerry Support Forums. She is also a social media enthusiast and an Internet addict. Luckily, her BlackBerry Bold smartphone helps her stay constantly connected and plugged in!
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