Arguably, one of the defining features of a BlackBerry phone, apart from its productivity perks, is its messenger, and we’ve known for some time that BlackBerry has been planning to bring the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) cross-platform to Android and iOS for some time now. Well, BlackBerry’s given us a hard date for its release, which is going to be the 21st of September on Android, one day before it is released on iOS (what’s that: an Android app release before iOS?!).
Regardless on what your stance on BlackBerry is, BBM does look to be carrying over a few of its features which will make messaging more of a snap for its users, such as seeing when people have received your messages (much like Whatsapp), and BBM Groups with chats including up to 30 people. But with so many different messaging apps already in circulation, it’s hard to see what BBM will offer over quirkly offerings like Whatsapp and Snapchat.
Will you be trying BlackBerry Messenger when it releases on the 21st? Let us know if you’re going to give it a go.
Full Press Release
BBM Available for Android on September 21 and iPhone on September 22
Instant mobile to mobile messaging with privacy and control you can count on, that lets you know that your message is read, is a free download for Android and iPhone customers.
Waterloo, ON – BBMâ„¢ – the iconic mobile social network – will begin rolling out for Androidâ„¢ and iPhone customers around the world from September 21. Previously exclusive to BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) smartphones, BBM will be available as a free download in Google Playâ„¢ and the App StoreSM. Customers will be able to download BBM by visiting www.BBM.com from their smartphone browser.
BBM gives you a private social network for active, real conversations.
- It’s immediate. BBM is always on so you are always connected. And because messages on BBM are typically delivered and read within seconds, it’s the closest thing to a live conversation.
- You trust it. BBM always tells you that messages are delivered and read. BBM conversations come alive on a private network you can count on.
- You control it. BBM allows you to choose your contacts and how you share your information. BBM uses a PIN so you don’t have to give anyone your phone number or email address.
“BBM is a very engaging messaging service that is simple to use, easy to personalize and has an immediacy that is necessary for mobile communications,†said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President for BBM at BlackBerry. “With more than a billion Android, iOS, and BlackBerry smartphones in the market, and no dominant mobile messaging platform, this is absolutely the right time to bring BBM to Android and iPhone customers.â€
BBM for Android and iPhone features:
- BBM Chat – Enjoy real, immediate conversations with friends on Android, iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones. Not only does BBM let you know that your message has been delivered and read, it also shows you that your friend is responding to the message.
- More than chat – With BBM you can share files on your phone such as photos and voice notes, all in an instant.
- Keep your group in the loop – Multi-person chats are a great way to invite contacts to chat together. BBM Groups lets you invite up to 30 friends to chat together, and go a step further than multi-chat by sharing photos and schedules. And, with Broadcast Message, you can send a message out to all your BBM contacts at once.
- Post Updates and stay in the know – BBM lets you post a personal message, profile picture and your current status, and lets your contacts know instantly in Updates.
- Your unique PIN – Every BBM user has a unique PIN that maintains your privacy, so you don’t have to give out your phone number or email address to a new or casual contact.
BBM will be available as a free download for Android smartphones running Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean (Android 4.x) beginning at 7AM EDT on September 21. BBM for iPhones running iOS 6 and iOS 7 will become available for each market on the App Store schedule of 12:01 AM local time on September 22. For more information, or to download BBM for Android or iPhone, visit www.BBM.com.
BBM will continue to evolve quickly. Later this year, BBM Channels will provide a forum for active, real conversations between you and the people, brands, celebrities, artists, service providers, communities and more, that matter to you. By creating a Channel, individuals and brands can engage their friends and communities in conversations sparked by their thoughts, ideas and passions. Subscribing to a Channel will let you join conversations with people who share your interests. In addition, BBM Video calling and BBM Voice calling are planned for availability for Android and iPhone in a future version.
About BBM
BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers on BlackBerry alone, and the overwhelming majority use BBM an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to other mobile messaging apps. Messages on BBM are typically read within seconds, reflecting how truly engaged BBM customers are.
About BlackBerry
A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. BlackBerry is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: BBRY) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BB). For more information, visit www.blackberry.com.
