BBM coming to iOS and Android this summer

[xxMATTGxx]

BlackBerry bringing BBM to Android and iOS this summer

BlackBerry has just announced that its hugely popular BBM messaging service is going multi-platform: it will be released for Android and iOS as a free app this summer. BBM will support iOS hardware running iOS 6 and above; the Android version will be compatible with version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above. "It's time to bring BBM to a greater audience," CEO Thorsten Heins said in announcing the expansion, "no matter what mobile device they carry."

Though it's long been considered one of BlackBerry's strongest exclusive offerings, Heins said that his company aims to deliver a "fully featured" BBM experience on rival smartphone operating systems. "We're starting with messaging and groups, but we'll bring voice, screen share, and of course, channels later on," he said.

"BlackBerry's killer app won't be an exclusive anymore"

"Why are we doing this now? It's a statement of confidence," Heins went on. He said that BlackBerry 10's prospects are "so strong that we are confident that BBM can become an independent messaging solution." In a press release, BlackBerry notes that BBM's successful move to iOS and Android depends upon the approval of Apple and Google. Assuming things go according to plan, BBM will face no shortage of competition from WhatsApp and other messaging apps that already enjoy enormous success across mobile platforms.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/14/43...os-this-summer


People who I knew who had BlackBerry's mostly said they only had them due to BBM. Seems like there is no more reasons to buy one if one of the main attractions is going to be available on iOS and Android.

[Mark]

Ah will, I suppose it'll appeal to the chavs so they can speak to all of their other friends if they steal someone's iPhone or Galaxy S.
On a serious note, I do agree with you. I think Blackberry are making a bad move as I can't see it catching on. There are far better substitutes i.e. Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype etc that I don't see this catching on.

[today]

whatsapp and snapchat are perfectly fine for me, sorry BBM!

[Adam]

I give it a year until they're on the brink of administration again.

[samsaBEAR]

About two years too late here, Blackberrys aren't as popular as they used to be and everyone uses Whatsapp or Kik. Nice idea, but poor timing.

[Chris]

No point when theres already so many universal instant messaging services out there. The only upside to it is that its free whereas whatsapp costs like 69p a year or something? Not whether thats something that off puts whatsapp users anyway.

[Mr-Trainor]

No point when theres already so many universal instant messaging services out there. The only upside to it is that its free whereas whatsapp costs like 69p a year or something? Not whether thats something that off puts whatsapp users anyway.

For WhatsApp on my iPhone I just paid 69p once. I have WhatsApp and so do a lot of my family and friends, so BBM will be of no use to me .

[Rixion]

What will be the point of Blackberrys then, since they're losing one of their main exclusive features.

[!x!dude!x!2]

Blackberry are crap in the first place . all my friends that had a black berry got a iPhone

[iLogan]

i use to have a blackberry and now on hindsight it was the worst phone i ever had but i do really miss it for bbm! whatsapp, kik and all those other instant messaging apps aren't the same.

bbm is blackberry's only major strength imo and sharing it with apple and android will kill bb's only attractive feature