What is a BlackBerry PIN, what’s it used for, and why it has an advantage over IPhone and other PDA’s?
Â
I was talking to a BlackBerry user today, and realized that not many people really understood how valuable BlackBerry Messenger and PIN to PIN Messaging can be. So I thought today I would go over what a BlackBerry PIN is, how to find yours, and how you can use it.
What is a BlackBerry PIN and what’s it for?
PIN stands for Personal Identification Number, which is a unique set of number & letters assigned to all BlackBerry devices. Your BlackBerry PIN enables you to send a message from one BlackBerry directly to another almost instantly. So think of PIN to PIN ( Peer to Peer) as a private 2- way messaging system for your BlackBerry. The keyword is private, where emails and text messages can be retrieved, PIN to PIN messages only reside on the sender’s and the receiver’s device. Note: If you are a company employee and your was issued by your employer. Your device might be on a BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) and your IT team can have all your PIN to PIN messages forwarded to their computer for review; so use caution when using the PIN to PIN feature. PIN to PIN messages will also display a “D” for delivered, so you will know the other party has gotten the message.
International PIN to PIN Usage:
PIN to PIN usage is also global, and allows any BlackBerry user to communicate with any other BlackBerry user for FREE and unlimited anywhere in the world. The service is free when used from your home country. If used while traveling internationally, you could be charged for international data usage. Be sure to add an international data package before you travel; and most carriers do now offer plans that include unlimited international BlackBerry usage.  To communicate with someone abroad who has a BlackBerry, all you need is that user’s BlackBerry PIN and they must also have a BlackBerry data plan.Â
PIN to PIN and BlackBerry Messenger:
PIN to PIN is also what BlackBerry Messenger uses to communicate. Be sure to read our article on BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 for more info on that feature.
PIN to PIN usage during a crisis:
There is an interesting fact about the importance of knowing your, your colleagues’, and even family members’ BlackBerry PIN numbers. During 9/11, and other such disasters when voice services were jammed and text messages were backed-up; as long as even basic non 3G data was up and running BlackBerry users had a third option of using PIN to PIN messaging that worked when the other 2 failed. With so many governmental and rescue services using BlackBerry, you can be sure that the data side of the network that BlackBerry uses will come back faster than other functions.Â
There is no app for that…
How to find a BlackBerry PIN?
There are several ways to find your PIN.
1. If you have a BlackBerry with a full (QWERTY) keyboard, while on the main screen that shows all your BlackBerry icons, hold down the ALT key and type EACE (you will not see anything on the screen as you type). This will bring up the BlackBerry help screen and display your PIN.Â
2. Go to compose message – in the body of the message type “mypin” as one word then hit the spacebar. This will also display your PIN.
3. Go to options, then Status and look for “PIN: ”
How to use your BlackBerry PIN?
Now that you know how to find your PIN, you will need to have a BlackBerry Data plan through your wireless carrier to use it. Before you send a PIN to PIN message, you should store the PIN of the person to whom you will be sending a message under their contact in your address book.
Go to Contacts and either edit an existing contact, or add a new contact. You should see a address field that says PIN. This is where you enter the person’s BlackBerry PIN and hit the MENU button, then and select SAVE. You should now have that person’s name and PIN under their contact information.
Next, to send a message, you open contacts – highlight the person’s name – hit the MENU key, and select PIN and your BlackBerry will open a messaging screen that will look like you are sending an email.
You can also compose a PIN to PIN by selecting  MESSAGES, next hit the MENU key, select Compose PIN and in the TO: section, type the person’s name (that has a BlackBerry PIN saved in your address book) and hit ENTER key on the keyboard, or use the trackball to select. If you are using a BlackBerry Storm, just click on the person name. Continue composing and sending as you would an email message; and just like an email message you can send to multiple recipients that have BlackBerry PINs. PIN to PIN messenges will appear in red in your messages folders; and unlike text messaging there is no character limit, so feel free to type as much as you want.
There you have it, now go and PIN someone..Â
