BlackBerry Messenger App Coming to Android and iOS

[Dohc-WP]

Earlier this year, BlackBerry revealed its latest OS, BlackBerry 10, running on the company's latest smartphone, the BlackBerry Z10. While the operating system offers a number of updated features, BlackBerry Messenger remains a strong selling point for the company's devices. But according to The Verge, BlackBerry has now opted to offer the messaging service on competing smartphones.

"It's time to bring BBM to a greater audience, no matter what mobile device they carry," said BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins.

The free BBM app is expected to arrive on iOS and Android sometime this summer. Compatible Android devices will need to run Android 4.0 and later, while iOS devices with iOS 6 and up will be able to take advantage of BlackBerry's messaging service. Both apps will of course need to pass Google and Apple's approval process first.

Eventually, BlackBerry plans to bring the full BBM experience to iOS and Android, including voice and screen share. But the app will initially only offer messaging and groups.

The decision to give away what was previously exclusive to BlackBerry devices seems, admittedly, a bit strange. But according to Heins, the move is a "statement of confidence," adding that BlackBerry 10 is so promising the company thinks BBM can stand alone as an independent messaging app.

Source

[MalicE]

now people will have no reason to get a crackberry anymore. the beginning of the end.

[Liam36]

now people will have no reason to get a crackberry anymore. the beginning of the end.

Actualy the older Blackberry devices still have uncapped BIS, which the only reason I use one. But I'm starting to get sick of Blackberry.

[MalicE]

Actualy the older Blackberry devices still have uncapped BIS, which the only reason I use one. But I'm starting to get sick of Blackberry.

only till you have to upgrade again

[Hagan]

Have a few friends that have BB devices. Will be another convenient way to keep in touch with them.
BBM on Android.
Never planned buying easily broken equipment anyway.

[Ichigo]

Blackberry's can still connect to android users with whatsapp so dont see the need to bring bbm to android will still use whatsapp.

[simon]

Told my mom about this and she felt a little small afterwards.

When I was going for my recent upgrade she was adamant that I go for a decent phone after I was thinking of going for a cheap phone and getting some vouchers to then buy some goodies.
My phone got stolen so I was put in a situation where I needed to have a half decent phone anyway. Once I told her that she really began insisting that I went for a BB mainly because of the BBM and the value of Blackberry phones that are available and she didn't want me to go for a "cheapie" phone.
I ended up going for my android tablet, worth more than her phone and will now support BBM, how the tables turn lol

[MOnk]

Why would you use BBM over WhatsApp? Never had a Blackberry so no idea what BBM can do.

[Lyt]

Why would you use BBM over WhatsApp? Never had a Blackberry so no idea what BBM can do.

Nothing that whatsapp can't. I have a BB but never use BBM, only whatsapp. Plus you have to pay for BIS or for the enterprise server to have any access to any of the BB apps, which I'm not gonna do.

[FriedPet]

I actually prefer the BBM groups to Whatsapp groups. I also find the shared calendar in BBM groups quite handy.
BBM's smileys show better emotions, but Whatsapp have a wider variety.

One thing I like about BBM is that you have to add people, where as in Whatsapp, if you have them as a contact they're automatically on Whatsapp. Also, in BBM, you can read people's messages and ignore other whereas in Whatsapp, it doesn't show whether a message was read, but instead when last you where online.