BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) coming soon on Android and iOS devices!

BlackBerry recently announced plans to make its ground-breaking mobile social network, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), available to iOS and Android users this summer, with support planned for iOS6, and Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher, all subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play.

BBM sets the standard for mobile instant messaging with a fast, reliable, engaging experience that includes delivered and read statuses, and personalized profiles and avatars. Upon release, BBM customers would be able to broaden their connections to include friends, family and colleagues on other mobile platforms.

In the planned initial release, iOS and Android users would be able to experience the immediacy of BBM chats, including multi-person chats, as well as the ability to share photos and voice notes, and engage in BBM Groups, which allows BBM customers to create groups of up to 30 people.

According to Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem, at BlackBerry, the time is 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,” he further added.

BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers, with more than 51 million people using BBM an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to other mobile messaging apps. Almost half of BBM messages are read within 20 seconds of being received; indicating how truly engaged BBM customers are.

BlackBerry also announced BBM Channels, a new social engagement platform within BBM targeting businesses, brands, celebrities, and groups to easily connect to their followers. This new BBM feature will initially be made available to BlackBerry users only.

If approved by Apple and Google, the BBM app will be available as a free download in the Apple App Store and Google Play store.

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