Chapter 7. Instant Messaging with Your BlackBerry

IN THIS CHAPTER:

42 About Instant Messages

43 Set Up Instant Messaging

44 Manage Your IM Contacts

45 Carry On an IM Conversation

46 About Instant Messaging Services

Email, SMS , and PIN messages all provide useful approaches for communicating with other people using your BlackBerry device. However, they suffer from a common problem in that they tend to have a delayed sense to them in terms of how rapidly you can carry on a dialogue with someone. Granted, push email messaging helps in terms of delivering messages rapidly, but for the true feel of a live conversation, look toward instant messaging as opposed to email, SMS, or PIN messaging. Instant messaging involves a live "connection" to another device to which you can send and receive messages in real time. Not only does instant messaging have a perceived effect of being faster than other messaging options, the user interface for instant messaging is typically structured more like a conversation. This chapter introduces you to instant messaging as it pertains to your BlackBerry 7100 device.