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  1. BlackBerry Docs
  2. BBM Enterprise
  3. User Guide
  4. Chats
  5. Start a chat

Start a chat

To start a chat in
BBM Enterprise
, a passphrase must be shared between you and your contact. By default, this passphrase is shared automatically, and you aren't prompted for a passphrase.
  1. On the
    Chats
     screen, tap The start chat icon.
  2. Tap a contact.
  3. Type your message.
  4. To format your the message text, do any of the following:
    • To apply bold, type an asterisk (*) before and after the text. For example, type *text*.
    • To apply italic, type an underscore (_) before and after the text. For example, type _text_.
    • To apply underline, type a plus sign (+) before and after the text. For example, type +text+.
    • To apply strikethrough, type a tilde (~) before and after the text. For example, type ~text~.
    • To apply no formatting to code block text, type three back quotes (```) before and after the text. For example, type ```text```.
  5. To add an emoji or sticker to your message, tap Add emoji icon.
To go to the newest unread message in a chat, tap
New Messages
.

Add a picture or file to a chat

For information about sharing files from apps on
iOS
 devices, see Share a document from an app in the documentation from
Apple
.
  1. In a chat, do one of the following:
    • Tap The Drop-down icon > The Image icon. Browse to and select one or more photos. Tap
      Done
      .
    • Tap The Camera icon
      >
      Photo
      . Take a picture.
  2. Select one of the following options:
    • HD Quality
      : The image may take longer to send and will use more data.
    • Average quality
      : The image will take less time to send and use less data.
    • Low quality
      : The image takes the least time to send and uses the least data.
      If you select Average or Low quality, animated GIFs that you add to the chat will be displayed as static images on the recipient's device. To upload GIFs with animation, you must use HD Quality as the default setting. For more information about animated GIF support, visit support.blackberry.com/community to read article 112241.
    The image quality that you select is saved as the default setting in the device Settings.
  3. Tap or click The Send icon.
To comment on a picture, in a chat, tap a picture. In the field at the bottom of the screen, type a comment.
To view all the pictures or files in a chat, at the top of the screen, tap the contact name. Tap
Pictures
 or
Files
.

Send pictures or files

Depending on your device, some features might not be available.
  1. Tap The attach icon.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • To attach a file, select one of the options.
    • To take a picture, tap The camera icon. Select
      Camera
      .
    • To record a video, tap The camera icon. Select
      Video
      .
    • To record and send a voice note, tap The voice note icon.

Share your real-time or static location

You can can share your static or real-time location in a chat. Chat participants receive a prompt to view your location on a map. When you share your location, you set an expiry time to control how long your location is shared.
  1. In a chat, tap The Expand icon at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Tap The Map pin icon.
  3. Do one of the following:
    Task
    Steps
    Share your real-time location.
    1. Tap
      Share my real-time location
      .
    2. Set the time that you want to share your location for.
    3. Tap
      OK
      .
    4. If you are prompted, grant permission to share your location.
    If you want to extend the sharing period, you can tap
    Update
     in the chat notification. Change the
    Share my real-time location
     period and tap
    OK
    , or tap
    Stop
     to end location sharing.
    Share your static location.
    1. Tap
      Share a location
      .
    2. Tap The Share location icon.
    3. If you are prompted, grant permission to share your location.
    4. Tap
      Send location
      .
    A notification that you are sharing your location is added to the chat on your device. The recipient receives a notification that you have shared your location.
  4. If you want to extend the sharing period, you can tap
    Update
     in the chat notification. Change the
    Share until
     period and tap OK, or tap
    Stop
     to end location sharing.
You can tap The Globe pin icon at the top of the screen to view a list of the contacts that are sharing their locations. Tap an entry to view the map. In the map, you can switch between map, satellite, and hybrid views and zoom in or zoom out.