I am a new user of the BB 8830 can some one please tell me what is the difference between a PIN message and a SMS. Thank you for your time in advance

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Search for the many threads for all the details. Has been asked and answered many times. The short answer is each blackberry has a unique PIN number. You can send a message to another blackberry using the PIN (from messages, open menu, select compose PIN), or use blackberry messenger. The message is transmitted via data.

PIN messages are between two Blackberry devices and are instant and very secure. To me they are the most dependable communications between two devices.

SMS can be between non RIM devices and can take long periods of time to get from one device to another. Sometimes they never get there. They are not near as secure.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8130/4.3.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

Another important difference is that SMS messages are limited to 160 characters whereas I don't believe there is a limit to PIN messages

Thanks for the information. Sorry about not searching have to learn how to do that

leadmine, and others... the FAQ has a glossary of BB terminology.
BlackBerry Glossary - BlackBerryFAQ

You will have a test in the morning.

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I was about to recommend the faq, too... And also Stinsonddog's tips http://home.comcast.net/~tamsterra/index.html