BBM •

BBM User Base on Android and iOS Cross 20 Million Mark in its First Week

October 30, 2013 By Deborah Cobing Leave a Comment

BlackBerry’s messenger application is up to a strong start though it was expected given the stature the company enjoys. Within the first week of its debut at the Google and Apple app stores, the popular messenger application has already gone for 20 million plus downloads. BBM has always been among the most sought after features of BlackBerry devices though unfortunately, with the company finding itself in a mess, it has made the messenger available across rival platforms, Android and iOS.

First BBM announced that it was going to come up with a version of its popular messenger app that would enable it to be run on Android devices. When it was first released there were few Android devices that could use the application. BlackBerry had then issued an update to their app which brought in more Android devices under its ambit. But there are yet Android users like those using Android Ice Cream Sandwich who are not able to run BBM on their devices even though BlackBerry specifies Android 4.0 and above as the minimum requirement for their messenger to be compatible.

What to expect soon:

BlackBerry has also announced that Android users of the app would soon get the add-on which enables them for making Video Calling, Voice calls and BBC Channel viewing. Executive in charge of BlackBerry BBM, Andrew Bocking has personally announced this when mentioning that the company has few more surprises up their sleeves to be revealed soon. As of now, BBM has turned out to be the top free application running in the market today.

What BlackBerry would however have to look out for is that, Android users would not have much of a contact list in the BBM application. There is Whatsapp and the likes which have been available for Android and therefore most users of Android devices would be having these messenger services for their contact list. Therefore the question remains whether BBM remains high on the demand list for long enough or not. Whatsapp as on date has about 300 million users worldwide. BBM, on the other hand claims to have a combined user strength of 80 million, which means there is a lot of catching up to do.

BlackBerry Messenger Goes For 10 Million + Downloads Within 24 hrs

October 24, 2013 By Deborah Cobing Leave a Comment

The popularity of the BlackBerry Messenger application can be measured from the fact that it has seen over 10 million downloads in a 24 hour time span after release for both the Android and iOS platform, both of which form two of the largest user base in the mobile connected devices segment right now. The messenger will remain out of reach for users of Windows Phone as of now. No other application has had such a large number of downloads in such a short span of time. It is but natural to have it so for the users base is that much larger being usable for two different OS.

The messenger application from BlackBerry has been quite popular amongst BlackBerry users and when unleashed over Android and iOS platform, the grab for it was instantaneous. The application is known for its smooth and fast operations. That new users of the application are also experiencing this feast of speed is evident from the 60,000 five star ratings that the application has received and the 87,000 positive reviews that users have posted on Google Play.

Early users though are ruing the lack of certain features. These include the apps inability to communicate with FaceBook that would have allowed contacts from the phone to be synched. The drawback however has not affected the rating or popularity of the app to any degree. Countries like UK, US, Canada, Indonesia have rated this to be the top app for download at opening. The app has also received similar feedback from users in the Middle East as well.

The application cannot be used just by downloading. The process requires registration of the user with a valid email id. This process had been placed by BBM due some technical reasons with one of them being to be able to control their own server traffic and loads. Too many downloads from their server would result in a crash. These initial teething issues are however now past and users would be able to easily start using the application.

BBM Launch on Android and iOS Resumed

October 23, 2013 By Troy Rubenson Leave a Comment

It has been a long wait that has finally fructified. Users have been waiting patiently for BlackBerry to launch its Messenger application which would transcends both the Android as well as iOS platform. The company has officially launched the service and this puts BlackBerry some notches up in the market now. Those interested must go to App store and Play store to get their BBM.

BBM has been of interest given the type of hits received by the company for information on this application. There are many other messenger applications available in the market today but yet 6 million hits that has been received for information on BBM indicates that there is something special in this application. More so after the company announced the user base for the new messenger app has grown past the 1 million mark within 24 hours.

The interest in the BBM is also evident from the fact that the application had been leaked out even while it was in its build state and millions of users had installed this version on their handsets. This had led to the Canadian company withholding the original launch date of the application last month and taking measures for this leaked version to be capped.

The measure that BlackBerry has put in place is the process of registering the application. Users on downloading and installing the application on their handset would need to update their email id to the server. BlackBerry would set up the account and forward details of login to the email address. Users who already have an account at BB.com would however not be needed to go through this process. This process of registration to use the application should help not only to cap the use by the unofficial version of the messenger but also the number of users of the application.

With other messenger applications like Apple Messages, Google Hangouts and WhatsApp available out there, it remains to be seen if BBM is something that users would stick to using after the initial curiosity about the app has been satiated.

The success of this application, if it happens would also mean that BlackBerry may think of a shift from hardware, where it is not faring well, to software.

BBM For Android And iOS, BlackBerry Messeger Faces Chaos At Launch

September 28, 2013 By Jack M. Robinson Leave a Comment

Last weekend, BBM was supposed to come out with their Messenger application compatible for all three platforms i.e. their own BB 10, Apple’s iOS along with the Google Android operating system. The launch of the BBM app at the Google Play Store however turned out to be far from a smooth one as users already were greeted with fake BBM apps which in reality are older versions of the app that might be close to the real thing but still contain quite a few anomalies that the final version is devoid of. The legitimate downloads that took place just after the launch last weekend has been 1.1 million as per BlackBerry. The company however had to halt the continuation of the app and remove them from Apple as well as Android platform sites, due the huge traffic congestion occurring as a result of the bogus links being directed to their servers.

Andrew Bocking from BBM, Waterloo stated that the distribution of the app was not a simple task. They would have to take stock of the situation again before re-starting the launch. In his words, there was no way to stop the bogus versions connecting to their servers from where authentic downloads of the correct BBM version for Android and iOS was taking place. The number of such users had increased to such high numbers that they were forced to stop the roll out of the authentic application download.

He clarified that their team is currently working out a process to block off the bogus application versions and then re-launch their Messenger app. This task he mentioned would take some time for which he requested users to be patient. He also mentioned that updates on this issue would be regularly posted @BBM on Twitter. All registered users would be notified via these channels about the availability of the correct application as and when it so happens.

The above development has come at a time when the company is in dire straits in the face of diminishing interest for its devices. With competition from Android as well as Apple’s iPhone, BlackBerry already had to write off a significant amount in losses with things coming to such that the company bosses are even contemplating buying out BlackBerry for an estimated $4.7 billion. Dell is another company that has gone private in recent times after faced with bleak sales of its PCs.

BBM for Android and iOS Delayed by BlackBerry Because of Appearance of Unofficial BBM App

September 27, 2013 By Troy Rubenson 1 Comment

After the appearance of unoffiical BBM app for Android on the Google Play Store, BlackBerry has withdrawn their move of release the official BBM app for Android and iOS. The app appears online this weekend which was the same time original BBM app was to arrive.

The unofficial BBM app quickly gained popularity. More than 1.1 million downloads were done in just eight hours. The unofficial release resulted in the birth of unexpected issues and this called for stalling the release of the BBM app for Android and iOS. Even BlackBerry has confirmed about the unofficial app on its official blog. BlackBerry has said that they are working harder to fix the problem that has arisen from the unofficial app.

The troubles really do not seem to end for the Canadian business phone manufacturer. BlackBerry has expressed that currently their pausing the release of the app but once the problem is fixed, BBM will be able to deliver according to the expectations it has set. As of now, BlackBerry has not promised any new timeline for the arrival of BBM at the Play Store.

BlackBerry added that they will spread the release of the BBM app for Android over a period of time for different countries. Those of you who would like to know the latest news on BBM app have been suggested to visited the official BBM Twitter account or www.bbm.com.

By the way, the BBM app for iPhone has already released in UAE and it is available through the App Store. iPhone users in India are also getting the new BBM app at the specified time. Well, Android users are still kept in the dark with no update on the BBM release. Even iPhone users in Australia have received the BBM app but there is no sign about the Android version. Also, iPhone users in New Zealand have received the BBM app.

The unfortunate incidence is quite a blow for the Canadian handset manufacturer as they have been long advertising about the BBM app. That is the reason why the unofficial app managed to achieve 1.1 million downloads in 8 hours. So, we hope that the original BBM app arrives soon so that BlackBerry is able to attract Android and iPhone users.

Even though BlackBerry is on the verge of announcing the new BlackBerry Z30 smartphone, the company is facing tough situations which have even caused them to consider to completely selling off the company. Last Friday, the company went on to announce that they are aiming at getting away from consumer market and they are also considering cutting 4500 jobs.

BlackBerry through the BBM app aims to still remain in the limelight by offering the famous messaging app that was only exclusively available on BlackBerry phones. Now that many of the BlackBerry users have switched to iPhones and Android smartphones, the company aims to enter inside those devices through BBM app to attract the old users.

What do you think about the BBM app? Will it be able to do any good for the company whose popularity is dwindling like never before? Do let us know your thoughts through the comment section.

BBM Release Date – BlackBerry Messenger for Android Arriving on September 21, iOS on September 22

September 20, 2013 By Troy Rubenson Leave a Comment

Tech blogs have been writing on BBM for Android and iOS since quite some time and it is only now that the tech world has come to know the exact release date of BBM app. The BlackBerry Messenger is going to release for Android on September 21 and on September 21, the app is going to arrive on iOS devices.

The BBM chat app was first exclusively available on BlackBerry devices. Even though BlackBerry started losing popularity, BBM still managed to remain as the best feature of BlackBerry devices. Rumors have it that BlackBerry considering selling the company in near future mainly because of the poor sales of the newly released BlackBerry phones like Z10 and Q10.

Even though the Canadian business phone maker is not doing well, the BBM is becoming so popular that it is going to arrive on Android and iOS powered devices. The BBM app can be used on all Android devices that are running on Android ICS or later. On the other side, the BBM app can be used on all iOS devices that run on iOS6 or iOS7. The BBM app will be made available for free on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

BlackBerry’s move of making its proprietary BBM app available on other mobile operating system platforms indicates that the company is making efforts to remain relevant and revive the decreasing market share. BlackBerry which was once leading the mobile phone market has been struggling to give any competition to Apple and Samsung. BBM will continue to make use of BBM PIN in order to maintain privacy. This one feature that sets the app different from another famous app called WhatsApp which offers similar chatting features.

When the BBM app will be made available for Android and iOS devices, BlackBerry Messenger’s video and voice calling services will not be made available readily. These services will be made in the near future. At the moment BBM has sixty million active users and this figure is definitely going to double with app coming on two of the most popular mobile operating system platforms.

Previously, it was rumored that Samsung had struck a three month deal with BlackBerry to exclusively have the BBM app on its devices. According to Samsung Mobile’s Nigeria unit, after three months, the app is going to be made available on all Android phones. However, BlackBerry has not confirmed anything on it recently.

BBM is a very intuitive messaging app and there are over billions of users using Android, iOS and BlackBerry smartphones across the globe. However, among all the chatting apps like WhatsApp and WeChat, there is no leading mobile messaging platform. So, this is an appropriate time for BlackBerry to release BBM for Android and iOS devices.

What do you think about the BBM app? Will you be using it on your Android phone? It is going to achieve popularity or slot itself like just another chatting app? Do let us know your views.

BBM for Android, iOS iPhone Release Date of Sept 18 Nearing, BlackBerry Announces App Launch Event Invitation

September 16, 2013 By Troy Rubenson Leave a Comment

BBM for Android and iPhone which has been in the news is finally going to arrive very soon. Rumors have it that the release date for BBM for Android and iPhone is all set to September 18. It is heard that BlackBerry is organizing an international launch event that is to be held this Wednesday.

It was in the month of May during the BlackBerry Live event which is held annually that BBM will be made available for different platforms like Android and iOS. The BBM app will support Android smartphones, iPhones and BlackBerry devices that run on BB10 OS. The event is going to start around 3pm on this Wednesday.

When BlackBerry was asked the release date of BBM, they claimed that the official release date of the app has not been announced yet. They also mentioned that interested individuals can sign up on BlackBerry’s website.

By the way, in Google Play Store, you can find plenty of apps that are described as BBM app for Android. Since the official app has not been launched yet, definitely those apps that are dubbed as BBM app are fake. You should not install such fake on your Android phones as it can allow malware to get inside your device and infect it.

An insider has revealed that BlackBerry has already submitted an iOS variant of BBM to Apple. The app was given to the Cupertino firm on Aug 24. From this we can understand that, the BBM app for iOS has already come two weeks ago to Apple but they have not approved it yet. On the other hand, BlackBerry does not need to go through a stringent procedure to get its app approved for Android. They only need to make the app available on Google Play Store. However, now BlackBerry is waiting to get the app approved by Apple. Once it is done, the app will come to Android as well.

Those who have tried the beta version of the new BBM app say that the app has designed quite similar to the BlackBerry 10 version. Another rumor about BlackBerry is that the firm is planning to sell itself. The acquisition might happen before November. The reason behind the acquisition is that the company is failing to achieve good sales. The company is also planning to launch a desktop version of the BBM app in the near future.

The reason behind launching BBM app for Android and iOS devices is that BlackBerry is making an effort to encourage users who have switched to Android phones or iPhone to use the app and get the feel of their new BB10 OS. The popularity of the firm and its new handsets are dwindling pretty quickly. However, the BBM app’s popularity has been consistent. This may be the reason why the company wants to continue with the BBM app production as a separate division after the acquisition takes place.

Sending and receives texts on BBM will happen through data plan. However, you will be able to send more text messages at less price as compared to a traditional SMS. Also, the character limit on BBM for writing text is 200-characters. The BBM app will compete with the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

BBM For Android: Fake App, Launch for BlackBerry Messenger

September 11, 2013 By Jack M. Robinson Leave a Comment

BlackBerry Messenger has been one of the company’s most sought after features, one that has been a top draw over the years to attract new users to their fold. However, things have changed over the years so that we have seen other players like What’s App come on to the scene with services similar to BBM.

It is this combined with the fact that Blackberry is fast losing its grip in the mobile devices and services segment has prompted them to have the app for the iOS and Android platform as well. This has been acknowledged by the company and it appears to be something that would fructify in the near future.

While much of it remains shrouded in secrecy, what the BBM for Android app will be like has been divulged to some extent by one of the persons involved in the beta testing phase of the App. Though the official secrets act wherein the agreement of non-disclosure is in effect, yet the individual uploaded a video of the BBM for Android at work. The video remained on site for a very short time but is being replaced by another as soon as it is removed. Possibly a game between the official creators of the BBM for Android and the person who has decided to break away from the non-disclosure agreement.

What has been noted from the video is that the BBM for Android bears a very close resemblance in look, feel and functionality to the BlackBerry 10 OS. The user would note a difference if they have been using only Android apps on their device. The UI would be different from a pure Android experience.

One of the most used features of BBM is its ability to be able to export contact details to any other smartphone device. This feature when ported on Android using NFC capabilities of the device would sure add extra plus points to the messengers popularity chart.

However, the exact date of its launch is yet based on loose talk only. There has been no official communiqué by any of those involved in the making of the much awaited app though there has been a prank played off late wherein someone posted the app at the Google Play Store. Users are advised to be cautious of such acts. Samsung, in the meantime has stated their Galaxy series of smartphones in Africa will be the first to witness the inclusion of the BBM into the Samsung Messenger Hub.

BBM for Android, iPhone Nearing Release, Signup Page Surfaces for BlackBerry Messenger

August 31, 2013 By Troy Rubenson Leave a Comment

BlackBerry is aiming to release its high popular BBM app which was once exclusively available for BlackBerry phones on Android smartphones and iPhone. Since the time the news has been made public, the rumors surrounding it does not seem to die. The latest news on this front is that BlackBerry has put a new landing page which indicates that BBM app for Android and iOS is arriving very soon.

The new landing page does not indicate much info on the features of the two apps that are meant for Android and iOS respectively. If you checkout the page, you will know that it offers a space wherein interested users can enter their email address and when the app for Android and iOS becomes available, they will be notified.

It was during the BlackBerry World even that was held in May that BlackBerry had made it public that would bring the popular BBM app to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android mobile operating system platform. Even though BlackBerry has not released any official photo of the apps, on the web you can find leaked photos of the Android BBM app. The pics indicate that it is going to sport the similar features that are available for users on BlackBerry devices.

Tech experts are of the view that BlackBerry does not want users to make use of other messaging app and only use BBM on Android, iPhone and BlackBerry for communication. Some are of the view that BlackBerry wants to penetrate inside Android and iPhone devices and attract them to all the new BlackBerry 10 OS through the Android and iOS operating system.

In the recent past, mobile operating system platforms have gone ahead and started their own messaging application so that their users do not use another app for exchanging messages. For instance, users of iDevices are making use of an exclusive app called iMessage for communication. On the other hand, users of Android powered devices are using the Hangout app. And when it comes to Windows Phone devices, Microsoft is offering Skype which is available in all the other platforms.

The BBM app comes preloaded in all the BlackBerry phones. People are talking a lot about why BlackBerry is offering its operating system on other platforms. BlackBerry had been going through a terrible patch for the past couple of years. In fact, many felt that the company will not be able to survive. However, the company planned a huge come back plan and is trying to gain what it has lost in the past years.

BlackBerry launched the new BlackBerry 10 OS and came out with full touch devices. It even shed its previous brand name, RIM. Even after releasing couple of new full touchscreen phones, BlackBerry has still not managed to attract huge number of buyers. In fact, many of its loyal customers have already switched to iPhone or Android smartphone. BlackBerry move of offering BBM app on other platform has dubbed as company’s effort in attracting their previous customers who once remained loyal to BlackBerry.

Recent rumor say that people who are interested in using BBM on their Android smartphone or iPhone needs to first sign up to create a BlackBerry account in order to use the BBM app. What do you think about the BlackBerry BBM app for Android and iOS? Will be using the BBM app on your handset? Do let us know your views.

BBM for Android, iPhone iOS – BlackBerry Messenger’s What’s New

August 29, 2013 By Troy Rubenson Leave a Comment

The user guide for the BBM application for Android has been accidentally leaked and it is causing quite a furor. The application, which is used by Blackberry users, was accidentally posted on Blackberry’s world-wide website, and quickly pulled, but many had already seen the contents. The information leaked included details of how the application will function, and also includes features that will be introduced in the new version of the application. BBM for iOS is also still under the wraps and soon even iOS users will be able to take advantage of BBM.

Blackberry users now know that there will be some continuity when it comes to the design of the messenger application. They also know that new features will make the messenger compete on a level playing ground with other messengers which had almost made it obsolete. Some of the new features that will make the BBM stronger is the ability to send images, use Emoticons and Emoji. Other features include broadcast messaging, croup chatting, and real-time communications. In order to cut down the cost of data, the new BBM will be able to access both Wi-Fi and Cellular networks.

BBM users will also be able to create community profiles which will have photos, and personal information. This will turn the messaging service into s mini social networking theater. The user experience of this new feature allows people who are not BBM users to be listed in the BBM friend-list. This means that BBM will be able to communicate across networks and across platforms.

People who use third-party messaging applications are however skeptic of the flexibility of BBM. Almost all operating systems for smartphones have their own individual messaging applications. Coupled with the proliferation of third-party messaging services, it will be a monumental task to just keep in touch with your wide circle of friends. Applications such as WeChat and WhatsApp will provide steep competition since they can already communicate with users across several email hosts, and chat applications. The question is whether BBM will be able to give BlackBerry users the same kind of integration.

BBM for Android and iOS is an effort to encourage wider use of the application, especially in Samsung and iPhone, the leaders in the Smartphone markets. The application might also be targeted at the iPad, which will make it compatible with the leading tablet manufacturers. All-in-all, he leaked guidelines for BBM for Android and iOS have led to far-reaching speculation of how the application will perform once it is officially released.

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