I find myself using BlackBerry Messenger more and more these days. It sits in the top spot on my 5 Must Have Free BlackBerry Downloads list. BlackBerry Messenger is fast, free, easy to setup, easy to use, and every BlackBerry user has access to it. It is almost the perfect Instant Messaging application.
There is, however, one BlackBerry Messenger feature request that I would like to make:
Desktop Support
I know that BlackBerry Messenger runs on Research in Motion’s private network using PIN messaging in the background and that a simple desktop client would compromise network security. What I am suggesting is some type of pass through client that works with BlackBerry Desktop Manager only when your BlackBerry is connected to your PC.
I love my BlackBerry, however, having to pick it up every time I want to send or respond to a BlackBerry Messenger messages seems kind of silly if I am already sitting at my desk with my BlackBerry connected to my PC. How cool would it be to have a new BlackBerry Messenger message come in and a little notification pops up in your system tray to which you can reply to just like you were using Google Talk or Yahoo Instant Messenger?
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Andrew 03.01.07 at 4:30 pm
That is a fracking great idea.. but how I understand it, BB Mess. works through the SMS channel on the network. I suppose the carriers would have to open the walled garden a bit to allow that, and they are reluctant to do so.
Aaron 03.01.07 at 4:31 pm
Why don’t you just use Goolge Talk? It seems like there are a lot more people that use it or even Yahoo than BlackBerry Messenger and you can already use it from your BlackBerry or your computer.
Stac 03.01.07 at 4:51 pm
There is no reason why a conduit couldn’t be written to have Jabber integrate with it if RIM were amenable… that would be the easiest and best way to go about having BBM functionality on the desktop…
Stac
Robb Dunewood 03.01.07 at 4:51 pm
Andrew,
You’re right and thats why they should allow some type of pass thru when your BlackBerry is connect to Desktop Manger.
Allow the messages to be sent and received via the BlackBerry and redirected to a local client that only works through your BB when connected to the PC.
Robb Dunewood 03.01.07 at 4:53 pm
Aaron,
Goole Talk and YIM are fine, if the BlackBerry users you are trying to chat with has the client installed and an account already created. The nice thing about BlackBerry Messenger is that you can invite BlackBerry user to use the application and all they have to do is say yes and download. They don’t have to fuss with setting up an account.
Eric 03.02.07 at 2:50 am
bb messenger just can send messages to other bbers, right? Can i use it to send short messages to others who are not bbers?
Robb Dunewood 03.02.07 at 7:44 am
BlackBerry Messenger is BlackBerry to BlackBerry only.
d_fisher 03.02.07 at 11:02 am
From my understandings of the BlackBerry network there are a couple of incorrect statements above. Here are my thoughts…
* BlackBerry Messenger does not use the SMS channel to communicate.
* BlackBerry Messenger sends PIN messages (not SMS).
* PIN numbers are unique to BlackBerry devices. No PIN number = no PIN messaging.
* All PIN messages (BIS/BES too) passes thru the RIM NOC.
* Everything passing thru the RIM NOC does so because of the BlackBerry data plan.
* BES servers can send PIN messages because it has an authorized connection (expensive license key) to RIMs network.
The biggest problem I see with a desktop client for the BlackBerry messanger is SPAM. I don’t mind the BlackBerry Messenger being on the handheld only. I have never gotten any SPAM via BlackBerry Messenger and would liek to keep it that way.
Robb Dunewood 03.02.07 at 1:00 pm
d_fisher,
In the initial post I said that BBMesenger uses PIN messaging and I think that somewhere in the comments someone referred to it as SMS.
As far as Spam goes, I really don’t see it being any more of a problem than it is now. My proposed new Blackberry Messenger functionality is based on a desktop client that runs only as an extension to BlackBerry Messenger on the BlackBerry while said BlackBerry is connected via desktop manager.
Right now I am sitting at a desk with BlackBerry Messenger running on my BlackBerry which is connected to my laptop. It would be lovely if when a message came through it would just pop up on my desktop via Blackberry Desktop Manager as compared to me actually having to pick up the BlackBerry and respond to the message physically on the device.
John Simpson 03.02.07 at 3:11 pm
What would be REALLY nice is if their download procedure didn’t require IE. NOT EVERYBODY USES WINDOWS (yes, I’m a “mac guy”) and I for one am getting tired of having to bug my friends to use their windoze machines just to install a program on my handheld.
Even if they don’t want to come up with an install procedure for Mac OS X, it should still be possible to download things like Blackberry Messenger or Google Talk over the air, without it having to be done via the computer. Other programs have a .jad file (which points to a .jar file) which can be downloaded over the air, why can’t Blackberry offer downloads in the same manner?
Robb Dunewood 03.02.07 at 3:44 pm
I don’t now about Google Talk, but, you can definitely download BlackBerry Messenger, along with a bunch of other BlackBerry applications OTA.
Hardy Bassington 03.18.07 at 5:35 am
I am so frustrated! Nowhere can I find the FREE BlackBerry Connect download for Nokia E61. My ISP is o2 and I have run out of patience with their Helpline.
Any suggestions?, Please
Hardy Bassington 03.18.07 at 6:08 am
Re: Blackberry Connect Downloads, please, any suggestions how/where to find them?
Tim Nicholson 05.17.07 at 2:34 pm
Why even require that your desktop/laptop be connected to your Berry? I’d prefer to see a stand-alone BB Messenger program and/or web interface for use on the desktop. Have it work like MSN alerts where if you are logged into it on your desktop, the messages get sent there rather than to the mobile device.
This may sound complicated seeing as BB Messenger is PIN-to-PIN, but why not allow us to log into a web page (or desktop app) with our PIN and have messages sent there. Maybe have it “time out” after so many minutes and revert back to sending to the Berry.
rachael 06.19.07 at 5:34 pm
just found out about this messenger but havent used it yet, are there any fees involved, like txt msg?
Rick 07.05.07 at 4:13 pm
Rachel - No, there are no fees. It uses the RIM NOC data side, so you won’t be getting txt surcharges. I have the unlimited data plan, a friend of mine does not, and he has not seen a fee for using BB Messenger.
Dave 07.31.07 at 9:35 pm
Would be good to have a BB messenger that integrated over our work network similar to windows messenger but with the device as well.
Damo 06.28.08 at 11:40 am
A desktop based program would be good for when you are in places without GPRS reception. I use BBM constantly when home but spend two thirds of my time in a country without GPRS.
To ensure security could the desktop client only work when connected to your BB but rather than send via your BB data plan send via the web?
D
Jay 10.22.08 at 12:22 pm
I would love for my messages come over to my desktop and be able to reply with my pc. Mine is always hooked in and using it for the internet anyway. Would be a nice thing to have.
Is there any talk about this happening?