BlackBerry-specific instant messaging application BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) was one of "the only effective methods of communication" in Chile following last weekend's devastating earthquake, according to a Miami newspaper. In the aftermath or Saturday’s massive 8.8 earthquake in Chile, Research In Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) was, in some cases, the only reliable means of wireless communication. General cell-phone-service and Internet were unavailable in certain quake-ravaged areas, but BBM service, which employs unique wireless infrastructure to route messages, helped keep Chileans connected with the rest of the world, according to the Miami Herald. BBM File Transfer Screen Cristian Gleboff, a 30-year-old Miami resident, told the Herald that though he was unable to reach relatives in Chile via phone-call or Skype, BBM came through in a pinch. “I tried reaching my family through Skype and via telephone for hours, but it was impossible and I gave up,” Gleboff informed the Herald. “I could talk to all of them through BlackBerry Messenger.” Both Twitter and Facebook, two popular social networks, were also largely unavailable due to the Internet outages, according to reports. A Guardian.co.uk article suggests that BlackBerry service was down in Concon, Chile, though it’s unclear if the writer was referring to cell-phone-service via BlackBerry or BBM itself. BBM employs RIM’s unique BlackBerry servers to distribute “PIN” messages between BlackBerry users, circumventing some traditional cell-phone infrastructure, so BBM can be available while other forms of cell communication are down. RIM’s BlackBerry platform and the associated BBM service received acclaim shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks on NYC in 2001, because BBM and BlackBerry PIN messages were one of the only reliable ways for first-responders and others on scene to communicate after cell service went down. Since then, the U.S. government has become one of RIM’s largest customers, investing heavily in BlackBerry devices for thousands of government workers. Check out my BBM Best Practices post for more on RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger. AS FREE CIO BlackBerry NewsletterGet better use out of your BlackBerry and keep up-to-date on the latest developments. Sign-up » Related content feature 8 change management questions every IT leader must answer Designed to speed adoption and achieve business outcomes, change management hasn’t historically been a strength of IT orgs. It’s time to flip that script by asking hard questions to hone change strategies. By Stephanie Overby Nov 30, 2023 10 mins Change Management Change Management IT Operations feature CIO Darlene Taylor’s formula for success: Listen, drive, care This Motor City CIO says building and maintaining credibility starts with an empathy-driven approach, which has the potential to render you highly appealing to top talent. By Michael Bertha Nov 30, 2023 6 mins Automotive Industry IT Leadership brandpost Sponsored by Huawei 400G: Building bandwidth for the next lap By Jane Chan Nov 30, 2023 5 mins Networking feature 4 remedies to avoid cloud app migration headaches The compelling benefits of using proprietary cloud-native services come at a price: vendor lock-in. Here are ways CIOs can effectively plan without getting stuck. By Robert Mitchell Nov 29, 2023 9 mins CIO Managed Service Providers Managed IT Services Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe