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✓ When your buddies are away from their computers
✓ When your buddies are simply too busy to be interrupted at the moment
IM adds a totally different slant on long-distance communication, opening a
wide array of possibilities — possibilities that can be used for good (team
collaboration) or ill (mindless gossip), depending on the situation.
As you may expect, IM is great for both personal and business applications.
Whether you're maintaining friendships or working to create new ones, IM is
definitely one powerful tool to consider adding to your social-skills toolbox.
Instant messaging on your BlackBerry
Most network providers dish out the three most popular IM services to their
BlackBerry customers:
✓ Google Talk
✓ Yahoo! (Y!) Messenger
✓ Windows Live Messenger
Those three IM programs aren't the only popular ones. Here are a few more:
✓ AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
✓ ICQ Instant Messenger
✓ iChat AV (on the Macintosh)
✓ Jabber (open source)
If you're using an IM network that isn't preloaded, you can always check the
RIM Web site to download the applications at mobile.blackberry.com. On
this page, go to IM and Social Networking. The list of IM applications should
be listed on the next page with a link for download.
IM basics: What you need
Assuming that you have the IM application available on your BlackBerry, you
need just two things to start using the standard five IM programs:
✓ User ID
✓ Password
Chapter 8: Too Cool for E-Mail
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