One of BlackBerry’s biggest selling points is headed to iOS and Android this summer. BlackBerry announced today that its popular BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service will finally be opening up to non-BlackBerry devices, a move that has been rumored for some time.
BBM is a messaging service with over 60 million active users, with 51 million of these being daily users that use the service for an average of 90 minutes a day. “BBM set the standard for mobile instant messaging with fast and reliable service and an added layer of engagement with delivered and read statuses,” states BlackBerry in its blog post announcing the new upcoming versions.
Here are the features you can expect from the BBM app when it first hits your iOS device sometime this summer:
- The immediacy of BBM chats
- Multi-person chats
- Voice note sharing
- BlackBerry Groups, where BBM users are able to set up groups of up to 30 people and share calendar, photos, files and more
BlackBerry executive Andrew Bocking had this to say regarding the announcement,
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.
BlackBerry also says that it plans to bring voice and video chat to the iOS and Android apps at a later point within the year.
If you’ve always been curious about the phenomena behind BBM but never dared buy a BlackBerry, your curioisity will soon be quenched.
