If you have been longing for a way to chat with your peers that are hooked on to their Android or iOS devices using the Blackberry Messenger, here comes your moment under the summer sun. The company, during the Blackberry Live 2013, made the announcement, though it will depend on Apple and Google approving such a move.
“For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service. 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,” revealed Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem, at BlackBerry.
The service will only be limited to chatting in the initial stages, but will grow to include other aspects as well. These include BBM Voice, BBM Video, and also BBM Channels during the later stages. The latter is a new addition which is described in the company press release as a “social engagement platform within BBM that will allow customers to connect with the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups they are passionate about.”
The service will continue to be free, and the other usual goodies associated with BBM chats will also be present. These include the trusted Delivered and Read statuses, depicted as D and R, which has come to be trusted by users as a surefire means of knowing when their messages have been delivered and read.
So it’s now up to Google and Apple, and once approved, the BBM chat app will be available at both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store as a free download.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.
