Today we introduce another contributing editor to the site, GuruNic. Nic is an avid BlackBerry lover and cellphone guru-in-training. Please welcome him!

I’m often asked what it is about the BlackBerry platform that can keep people so attached when (and I say this with all the deepest affection I have) the hardware is far behind the new premium devices. For me, the factors of the BlackBerry that keep me so attached will always be tied to the keyboard and style. The one thing I hear most from those that leave [the platform] is the emptiness that is being without BlackBerry Messenger.

So what is BBM exactly? At its core, actually nothing more than an instant messaging service, but what makes this IM client so addictive? Is it that it is closed to only BlackBerry devices as well as being always on? Maybe. Why does it matter that it’s only found on Berries? If gives the users something special that only they have access to. By being always on, you never have to worry about signing in or waiting for others to sign in. Both parties can see live when the other is typing as well as seeing icons knowing that their message has been sent, delivered to the other device, and received by the other person. These little Ds and Rs can mean the world to those in the conversation. But I’ll touch on that more in a second.

The other thing that BBM offers that makes it more than just another IM client is the ability to share you status message and broadcast a message to all your contacts. This makes BBM more of a social networking platform akin to Twitter than just another instant messenger.

Since groups were added BBM has become even more useful. Create a group for you immediate work group and pack of friends and share pictures, calendar, chat, lists, etc. You stay connected in real time with all the things you care about.

When I first came to BlackBerry I didn’t have much use for BBM. I didn’t have any other contacts than my parents and a few work colleagues. Short time later my girlfriend started using it and now it is the primary communication tool for us when we are apart. It has completely changed my expectations on messaging on a phone. Something about seeing the little received ‘R’ pop up makes me feel more connected. Its gives your messages substance. It makes you feel somehow closer to the person you are communicating with. And although I have some contacts that still use SMS as a primary tool for sending messages, I don’t feel that same connection. I’ve since grown my contacts list and make use of BBM daily.

The frustrating part of using BBM is when you get the little R and no reply! This frustrates my girlfriend to no end when, while busy at work, I check her messages but don’t often reply for an hour or so. Perhaps this should be a setting to not let your contacts know that you’ve received their message. Or perhaps we as a society need to re-learn the art of patience. Either way, I have often felt that way when sending messages in BBM, but I can quickly tell myself that at least I know they got it while I would be clueless by sending a text message.

To me there is no doubt that BBM is just one of the great features that keep people holding their Berries amid all the other smartphones out there. Having a glimpse of the future by participating in the BlackBerry Beta program has given me even more to look forward to this simple, yet addictive app.