[ultra99]

Hello, first post here, great community!!

I want to know how does BBM actually work? After adding the PINS, how do we communicate? Does it work via service or dataplan, cost money?

Thanks

[jsconyers]

Yes, you will need a BlackBerry data plan.

Other than that, you're good to go. You can BBM anyone, anywhere in the world and there's not additional or international fees.

[mckinneycm]

It requires a BB Data Plan.

[fonejunkie]

Very well! (rimshot)

BBM uses BlackBerry data, meaning that it won't cost anything extra above the data plan cost (BIS ~ $30, BES ~ $40-45). However, it will not work at all if you do not have a BlackBerry data plan. No WiFi, no generic PDA data plans...

[pvdilf40]

I'm not trying to be a smart alec but what makes BBM so special over any other IM client? (i.e Yahoo, Google, AIM, MSN)

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by pvdilf40

I'm not trying to be a smart alec but what makes BBM so special over any other IM client? (i.e Yahoo, Google, AIM, MSN)

{repost}

A few thoughts off the top of my head...

BBM conversations are encrypted as the traffic never leaves the BlackBerry infrastructure.

BBM offers delivery and read notifications.

BBM can be set up for internal use only on BES enabled handhelds. (Added security.)

BBM doesn't require an "account" to be set up on some public service somewhere which could possibly become compromised.

BBM can be audited by BES administrators which makes it more attractive than public IM clients in secured environments.

You can easily send pictures, files, audio, contact info, etc. over BBM.

BBM is pre-loaded on all BlackBerry devices.

BBM is "always on" and doesn't use as much battery power to run as third-party IM clients.

BBM has proven to be quite stable and is not the cause of memory leaks that plague other third-party apps.

You can easily change your BBM handle at will without your contacts needing to re-add you to their contact list.

BBM conversations and contact lists can be backed up locally to media card, or remotely via email. (With BBM 5)

[awdyo1]

Touche, sir... Touche

[islanman]

The Pin-to-Pin messages should be considered "scrambled"... not encrypted. This is because the encryption used for PTP and BBM is not as secure as the one used for email.

See the section "PIN-to-PIN Security Issues" in this document for more information on the topic:

Security of BlackBerry PIN-to-PIN Messaging

hth...

[fleighr08]

hi im using bb 9700 and its my first time using it. im wondering how can i add new contact to my BBM? i already used the pin method and the scanning method to add but it just show "Waiting for confirmation"... what should i do? im from italy and my network provider is Tre Italia and registered as a data plan. pls help... thank you in advance!!!

[zerog46]

The person on the other end also needs BBM and a BB data plan and needs to accept you as a contact.

[phrider]

PIN to PIN messages can be signed and encrypted if both parties to the message have appropriate certificates and S/MIME enabled.

[F0nage]

@penguin, damn good post. Newbie here, didn't realize you can send files over it. Way cool.

[F0nage]

Originally Posted by phrider

PIN to PIN messages can be signed and encrypted if both parties to the message have appropriate certificates and S/MIME enabled.

Can you do that if you're on BIS?

[phrider]

Originally Posted by F0nage

Can you do that if you're on BIS?

I'm on a BES. I don't know if it works with just BIS or not.

Any experts on this?