How are PIN messages transferred from one device to other?

[harshal_gs]

I want to know how a PIN messages is different from sms and messenger.

How it is transfereed from blackberry mobile to other?
I have read that it uses peer to peer wireless data transfer technology.
So what is this wireless data transfer?

Does it uses mobile's service provider i.e. if I am using Vodafone or Airtel service then does PIN messages uses these services.

What are the charges for PIN messages?

I have seen that it is free but requires Blackberry Data Plan then how could it be free?

[fonejunkie]

I want to know how a PIN messages is different from sms and messenger.

How it is transfereed from blackberry mobile to other?
I have read that it uses peer to peer wireless data transfer technology.
So what is this wireless data transfer?

Does it uses mobile's service provider i.e. if I am using Vodafone or Airtel service then does PIN messages uses these services.

What are the charges for PIN messages?

I have seen that it is free but requires Blackberry Data Plan then how could it be free?

It uses BlackBerry data... and it's free on a per-use basis... there is no charge for the message - but it requires a BlackBerry data plan in order to work. Similar to BBM, and other apps provided by BlackBerry (Facebook, Twitter4BB, MySpace, etc).

[MidnightDraven]

Its "free" because its data, it will come out of the data allowance for the Blackberry data plan.

Just like a SMS may cost 10p per message, but you have 500 free SMS's; it will take it out of that 500 free SMS's.

[harshal_gs]

Ok , then what is this peer to peer wireless data transfer.
Does it uses service providers network?
If not then how these messages travel from one device to another?

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted

The PIN message goes from your handset to your carrier's data network, to RIM, to the recipient's carrier's data network, to the recipient's blackberry.

The benefit of PIN messages, among other things, is as a backup to email, particularly BES users. If the exchange server goes down, the user has PIN messaging, though it is only good for communication with other blackberry users. And before there was the ability to turn on receipts for email, PIN was providing delivery confirmation to the sender.

[harshal_gs]

Ok then what are its advantages over SMS, as SMS also works in same way.

[harshal_gs]

does it works like emergency telephone number dialling

[MidnightDraven]

No.
Its like Instant messaging on msn, but there is no signing in.
If you have a limited SMS package, but unlimited data, its more cost affective to PIN.
If you have unlimited SMS package, but Limited data, then use SMS.

There isnt like a universal advantage to PIN messaging. Its up to how you use it.

If, like me, you have no friends with a blackberry, then you simply cant use it.

Use whatever features you want, how you want to use them.

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted

Ok then what are its advantages over SMS, as SMS also works in same way.

Technically the difference is there is a limit to the length of text messages, and text (and MMS) are transmitted over the voice network. PIN messages don't have a size limit, at least not a practical limit, and the messages are transmitted over the the data network.

The useage differences depend on you. There is no cost for PIN beyond the base cost of you data plan. If you use SMS/MMS, you are either paying per message (both on send and receive) or you are paying an additional fee for a SMS/MMS plan.

I know some people are used to using SMS and that's what everyone in their circle uses. From my perspective it's habit and what works for everyone in their circle. Blackberry PIN and BBM only work between blackberrys, after all.