Using Facebook from your BlackBerry has a number of advantages. Firstly, it lets you check your Facebook account when you’re stuck in traffic, waiting at an airport, or bored at a really bad party. The BlackBerry Facebook app also makes it possible to immediately post something pertinent, like your thoughts on breaking news, before everyone else has a chance to chime in and you have nothing original to say. Getting Facebook on your BlackBerry takes just a few seconds and it won’t cost you a dime.

Downloading the App
The free app for Facebook is available from the App World on your device, or you can download it online and then sync it over to your device. Either way, as soon as you log in with your regular Facebook username and password, all of your account information appears on the BlackBerry screen. Your news feed information, friend list, and online chat status all transfers to your BlackBerry when you open the Facebook app. You will need 2.7 MB of free space to get the application, so keep that in mind before you try to add it to your device.

Using the App
Even though the Facebook app looks different than the full site on your computer, you can complete just about all of the same tasks. From the menu option, you can choose from 10 icons, including “News Feed,” “Profile,” and “Friends.” If you choose the “Chat” icon, you can also carry on real time instant messaging with online contacts, just like you can from your computer. The condensed homepage still shows you the news feed with your friends’ most recent posts, and there is a status bar at the top of your screen where you can create your own new posts. Even notifications transfer to your BlackBerry — from messages to incoming friend requests.

To a veteran Facebook and BlackBerry user, getting and using this social networking application will be a breeze. If you are new to your device and/or the Facebook site, use the guide provided by BlackBerry for how to get started with the Facebook app (and other social media apps, for that matter) and use its various features.