BlackBerry Messenger comes to iOS and Android
Blackberry has done the seemingly unthinkable BBM, the popular BlackBerry only messaging app, will be available on competing devices later this year. The app which was once one of the platform's major draws for non-business customers, will also be given a overhaul with new features including "channels" that brands and companies can use to send updates to users who wish to receive them. The new multi-platform social-centric focus is a huge departure for the company that is struggling to stay afloat now that its products are no longer as popular as they used to be. The BBM announcement came at the end of a two-hour keynote speech at BlackBerry's annual Live developer conference. CEO Thorsten Heins said that BBM's 60 million active users are sending more than 10 billion messages per day, and called it "the most powerful messaging community in the world". However, despite saying the idea was to bring BBM to people no matter who they are and what device they carry, it will only be available on iOS and Android to begin with. Heins said the timing was a statement of confidence in the strength of the BB10 platform; a statement aimed at deflecting the common perception that the move will weaken one of the platform's last remaining attractions. BBM will compete with apps such as Whatsapp and Kik.
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