BBM iOS and Android release – clever or madness?
Blackberry has just announced at the Live 2013 event that it will release BBM on Android and iOS this summer, this means millions will be able to chat over BBM soon. The question is “Is this cross platform madness or is it a clever move by BlackBerry?”
Many BlackBerry users have friends that use Android or iOS devices, and the downside to this is that they cannot chat with them using BlackBerry Messenger. This is all set to change this summer when BBM cross platform releases, not sure why BlackBerry users did not just use something like WhatsApp.
BBM chat will roll out first and soon after will come BBM Video, BBM Voice and BBM Channels, Android and iOS users will get the same features as BlackBerry BBM users and to better that it will be totally free.
BlackBerry Messenger will support both iOS 6 and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and above, users will be able to create groups of up to 30 people as well as all the usual features BlackBerry users get. Users will be able to connect and engage with email, PIN, QR code scan or SMS no matter what platform.
This will need to be approved by Apple and Google, and once approved the BBM app will go live for millions as a free download.
Phones Review Says: Getting people to use BBM on Android or iOS will be hard, they love what they know already, the amount of times we have tried to get users to use WhatsApp was very hard indeed, they said they would stick with normal text messages.
The main worry is for millions of Android and iOS users to switch to the new BBM app, this would surely mess around with BlackBerry’s servers and jam the system if they are not ready, we believe it will be a slow move over with Android and iOS users.
Where does this lie: Will this help bridge the gap so people do not leave BlackBerry, or could this be damaging for BlackBerry as there would be no need for Android or iOS users to leave and buy BlackBery devices. We have had so many consumers mention to us that the only thing going for BlackBerry is it BBM service, do you agree or disagree?
If you are an Android or iOS user, will you be installing the BBM app once it releases?
Source – Official BlackBerry Blog
Comments
7 thoughts on “BBM iOS and Android release – clever or madness?”
Sure. Infact blackberry sales will drop like a hell lot.
Everyone will buy Samsung Galaxy or iPhone now. No body will buy Blackberrys anymore.
Ping!!!
I’m not sure how you guys have it in the UK but in Africa and much of the developing world BBM is pretty much the last thing keeping people with BlackBerry. Once this goes cross platform they’ll be nothing stopping them from getting an iOS or Android device.
But then again BlackBerry has to try regain market share in developed markets where people have already made the switch. Better late than never.
If blackberry agrees to realease this app on android an iOS
….den u r hammering ur own knees…bitches…!!!!
haha………….its suicide bro!!
Moment silence for all BB owners.
I am a Blackberry user and remain to be one for a simple reason, the ever reliable and efficient BBM service. I am using for communication with my Indonesian counterparts as Blackberry has a huge following hence widely used there. Though whatsapp is gaining in roads world wide including Indonesia it is hardly been the medium for communication as BBM is the automatically preferred form of communication there.
I frankly I think it will be suicidal for Blackberry to offer across other platforms. Though I can appreciate where Blackberry if coming from, at best to maintain it’s current pool of users by offering them convenience of open communication with other platform users. This has already been served and it is the sole purpose of whatsapp’s software achievement almost globally.
Though I opposed but sounding contradicting looking forward to the release of BBM cross platform as I will definitely switch to an Android device thereafter. BBM will end up and struggling to battle with whatsapp on cross platform communication software rather then shoring up it’s battle for survival of what’s left of it’s device.