It is no longer news that the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) would soon be available on the Android and iOS platforms. Until now, BBM has been the exclusive to BlackBerry users, but interestingly, they are choosing to extend this service to other OS platforms. Earlier rumored to be ready for release on June 21, 2013, Blackberry has squashed this information here and here.
In Africa, where BlackBerry devices are quite popular and with the usage of the Android and iOS phones rising, the question is: With the BB messenger now open to Android and iOS, would BlackBerry be gaining an advantage or could this turn out to be the potential self-destruct button for them?
BlackBerry continues to struggle with market share, but in markets where they still have some strength, Nigeria for instance, would they lose their advantage when you no longer need to own a BB device to get BBM? Is there something they are seeing, that we are not? Maybe the answers would come with time.
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In this age of collaboration, it is not strange to find cross-platform applications. With WhatsApp and Viber already established in this game, the advantage might just be that people have always admired how much of a personal connection BBM brings with it. Also, for former BB users who had previously moved to other devices, the addition of BBM to their device of choice might be a plus for BlackBerry.
In all of this, even if it pays the customer, which to me is quite paramount, we cannot help but ask how it gets to pay Blackberry. Shedding more light on the situation sometime ago, Andrew Bocking, (Executive Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem at BlackBerry) said, “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”. Again, we would have to wait to see how that pans out.
The initial release will enable iOS and Android users to use BBM chats, including multi-person chats, share photos and voice notes, and engage in BBM groups. The apps will also be subject to approval in the Apple and Google App Stores respectively. Earlier, BlackBerry announced that users will require iOS6 and Android 4.0 or higher versions to use the BBM app.
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With the potential to become a huge social network on mobile, BBM definitely possesses the gait to compete with rivals like Apple and Samsung. A friend also pointed out that if WhatsApp is valued at one billion dollars, then that tells you something. But even as a baseline, if BBM app won’t make any more money for Blackberry, it could serve as an advert for the company’s brand. According to Thorsten Heins, Blackberry’s Chief Executive, he refers to the move as “a statement of confidence.” BlackBerry plans to add support for BBM Channels as well as voice and video chatting for iOS and Android later, with the app also set to be free for download.
What do you think about BBM coming to Android and iOS? Would you adopt BBM for your Android or iOS (if you own either)? Let us know in the comments below.
