CEO Thorsten Heins announced
BBM will soon be available on Android and iOS. The
messaging app will launch globally this summer. This is a
huge move for BlackBerry as it brings BB10′s strongest
feature to literally hundreds of millions of potential users.
“It is a state of confidence,” Heins explained. “The BB10
platform is so strong and the response has been so good
that the time is right for BBM to become an independent
mobile messaging platform.”
The app will be free on both Android and iOS. Much like
other messaging apps, it will be a standalone application.
iOS 6 or Ice Cream Sandwich will be required.
Initially, only messaging and group features will be
available. But Heins promised that the rest of BBM will
eventually make its way to the Android and iOS versions
including screen sharing, BBM voice and the just-
announced BBM channels.
We are making the BBM platform more powerful than
ever”, Heins proudly stated. And with this very
uncharacteristic move from BlackBerry, it’s hard to argue
against his statement.
It’s clear BlackBerry is finally waking up. They are no
longer the big dog in the mobile war. If they are to
survive, the company needs to forge new relationships
and learn to work well with the two reigning platforms.
This move to put BBM on Android and iOS is a big step
forward. BlackBerry might actually have a chance.
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