HWZBB

The only BlackBerry community you will want to be in Singapore. Singapore BlackBerry users, unite!

HWZBB - The only BlackBerry community you will want to be in Singapore. Singapore BlackBerry users, unite!

BBM!!!


Yes, I thought that before even beginning to try and cover the other news that came out of BlackBerry Live, I should talk about my mind being blown regarding news about BBM. And yes, I do think this news deserves 3 exclamation marks.

BlackBerry has announced that BBM will be going cross-platform! The app will launch in the summer for devices running iOS 6, and Android ICS and up. PLUS, it will be FREE. It will begin with the basics such as messaging and group chats. Eventually BlackBerry will provide feature parity across them bringing to the table Voice and Video calls, and as well as screen sharing while video calling.

This is a bold move, and BlackBerry knows it. BBM was known to many as the only reason they stuck with a BlackBerry device. Thorsten did said that they only chose to do that now, as they feel confident enough that they have a solid OS to compete in the market, BlackBerry 10. I do agree with this though, since my reasons for owning a BlackBerry has never been BBM.

For me, I see it as a plus point as I have no doubt in my mind that BBM is the best Instant Messaging client in the world. Its solid, its reliable, its secure. Another plus point is that users might see BBM as a great app, and gives them confident to try a BlackBerry Device again.

The dark side of this plan, is that they lose users whose reason was only BBM. How much of their current subscribers is in that base, I do not know. But I cannot imagine that it would be a huge number, as there are many other alternative cross-platform IM clients as well.

We can only pray, and hope for the best.

The next news about BBM, would be the beta launch of BBM Channels. This is basically a service that adds on to the BBM experience, by allowing BBM users to create channels for themselves, a brand, business or community. Think of it as BBM as a social network. You have the ability to create and share posts that can be shared with all of your channel subscribers.

A few companies are part of that beta program as well and already have channels we can follow, the obvious one being Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team. Users can download BBM Channels if they are part of BlackBerry Beta Zone. It is available for BBOS devices as well.

I think this is the logical way to evolve BBM. Making it more social than before. They already have an estimated 60 million users on BBM, so those users are all potential users of BBM Channels. This with the announcement of BBM on iOS and Android, will no doubt vastly increase the user base of BBM.

I am already in the process of installing the app on my BB10 device, an once I have a channel set up, be sure to follow me. 😉

Category: News!

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