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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