BlackBerry BBM coming to Apple's iOS, Google Android this summer
BlackBerry's BBM messaging service will go cross-platform this summer, when official BBM applications will launch on iOS and Android.
BBM will be compatible with iOS 6 and Android 4.0 when it debuts this summer. The initial release will include multi-person chats, as well as the ability to share photos and voice notes.
The move will end exclusivity for one of the most popular features from the BlackBerry platform.
"The time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service," Andrew Bocking, executive vice president of Software Product Management and Ecosystem at BlackBerry said in a press release. "BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We?re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community."
Apple has its own proprietary messaging service known as iMessage. It allows users of Apple products ? including iPhones, iPads and Macs ??to chat with one another, but iMessage is not available on competing platforms like Android.
Features including voice, screen sharing and channels are planned for future BBM updates. BBM Channels will allow individuals and groups to create a dedicated channel and share information with followers, similar to Twitter.
According to BlackBerry, BBM has more than 60 million monthly active users, and more than 51 million of those people use BBM for an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day.
BBM will be compatible with iOS 6 and Android 4.0 when it debuts this summer. The initial release will include multi-person chats, as well as the ability to share photos and voice notes.
The move will end exclusivity for one of the most popular features from the BlackBerry platform.
"The time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service," Andrew Bocking, executive vice president of Software Product Management and Ecosystem at BlackBerry said in a press release. "BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We?re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community."
Apple has its own proprietary messaging service known as iMessage. It allows users of Apple products ? including iPhones, iPads and Macs ??to chat with one another, but iMessage is not available on competing platforms like Android.
Features including voice, screen sharing and channels are planned for future BBM updates. BBM Channels will allow individuals and groups to create a dedicated channel and share information with followers, similar to Twitter.
According to BlackBerry, BBM has more than 60 million monthly active users, and more than 51 million of those people use BBM for an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day.
Comments
Great news! Now to find someone who actually owns a blackberry.....
Just point to the fabulous profitability of the messaging business and quietly kill the phone without admitting failure.
Originally Posted by OllieWallieWhiskers
smart move... it may end up being the messaging service to rule them all.
It may be the push needed for Apple to make iMessage the messaging service to rule them all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OllieWallieWhiskers
smart move... it may end up being the messaging service to rule them all.
Maybe. But I think the fact that BBM will now be reviewed and compared with any other messaging service (in that it has now lost it's uniqueness), will be interesting. I'm not so sure it is the best or most secure messaging app out there.
This is a win for consumers in that now we will be able to directly compare the products without worrying about all that antiquated BBM server crapola.
The main metric here is whether the people still using BBM on Blackberry are still using it because
a) it's a superior service.
or
b) they've been "trapped" on the service as all their friends are on BBM.
I'm sure Blackberry itself thinks it's "a", but it could easily be "b."
If it's "a" Blackberry's hardware sales should stabilise and even go up, if it's "b" then it's simply a postponement of the long slow inevitable decline.
This is a smart move on RIM's part. I have a number of friends who use WhatsApp messenger to chat across hardware platform to people with Android, BB, and Apple phones. Would they be using WhatsApp today if BBM was cross-platform a year or two ago? Probably not.
RIM is a little late to the table with this, but I think it is a good move for them to make now.
WhatsApp
BBM's already redundant.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OllieWallieWhiskers
smart move... it may end up being the messaging service to rule them all.
I am hoping Apple will get a clue and move iMessage and Facetime cross platform too...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadra 610
iMessage
WhatsApp
BBM's already redundant.
apple doesn't give a **** about other platforms; whatsapp looks bad.
bbm can do it right
Quote:
Originally Posted by herbapou
Quote:
Originally Posted by OllieWallieWhiskers
smart move... it may end up being the messaging service to rule them all.
I am hoping Apple will get a clue and move iMessage and Facetime cross platform too...
why do you care?
I'm not sure this is a good move for Blackberry. How many BB phone owners keep upgrading to new BB phones because a large group of them use BBM to communicate? Groups like that (usually female who text continuously) don't really know or care about phones so they stick with the BB phones.
As soon as BBM comes along on other phones, their partners will inform them that they can get an iPhone and still send continuous inane drivel FOC to all of their "bezzies". BB retails less hardware and eventually becomes a software only business, sells the hardware side and an Apple lead consortium picks up their patents.
BBM on the BB phones actually sold the phones,
how is BB going to make money from BBM on other platforms? Sell the app or adverts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by pedromartins
why do you care?
Possibly to use facetime and imessage with people who do not have an iphone. (Which is still most of the population) Besides according to Steve Jobs Facetime was going to be open.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple v. Samsung
Quote:
Originally Posted by pedromartins
why do you care?
Possibly to use facetime and imessage with people who do not have an iphone. (Which is still most of the population) Besides according to Steve Jobs Facetime was going to be open.
And why do you care about his possible answer?
Quote:
Originally Posted by pedromartins
And why do you care about his possible answer?
Okay, gotta ask, why do you care so much about what AvS cares about?
10 billion messages a day. Can you read?