BlackBerry Messenger Coming to iOS and Android?

[MacRumors]

BGR reports that Research in Motion is planning to bring its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) system to the iOS and Android platforms, expanding the instant messaging system that has been a key feature of the BlackBerry operating system for many years.

According to our sources, RIM has not yet finalized details surrounding timing or pricing, but we have heard that the company might make the software free to all users. We're also told strategy is still being developed, however, and RIM may end up charging users a one-time fee or even a recurring fee for access to its BBM service on third-party platforms.

According to the report, Research in Motion would likely offer a "stripped down" version of BBM to iOS and Android users, allowing them to share text but not photos, locations, and other data included on the BlackBerry version. The company is also reportedly targeting a launch on Android first, with iOS coming a bit further down the road.

Article Link: BlackBerry Messenger Coming to iOS and Android?

 

[toromac]

They're doing this b/c whatsapp essentially offers the same service... and it works on BB, android, nokia and iOS. There is no reason that BB should not open up BBM to everyone. They need to do something to make their phones desirable, because they are quickly becoming a forgotten company in danger of becoming obsolete.

 

[roadbloc]

One more reason why not to get a BlackBerry.

 

[hfletcher]

A lot of people I know have blackberry's, and one of the big reasons they don't want to switch to an iPhone is because they use BBM so often. I know you can get whatsapp and stuff, but BBM is already on every single blackberry. I would love to see BBM on an iOS device, even if you had to pay for the app.

Not sure if apple's app policy would allow it though?

 

[AHDuke99]

I sounder how they'll work it? Will they assi PINs to iPhones as well? I'm sure apple will allow it if they allow Kik and whatsapp. No reason why they wouldn't.

 

[iMrNiceGuy0023]

im sure BlacBerry will charge for this, how else will they benefit??

I think BlackBerry will lose sale, most people I know keep their blackberry because of BBM

 

[BornAgainMac]

If they slap a really terrible interface to it then it will be just like having a Blackberry. Cool.

 

[kyjaotkb]

well, at least where I live (France), texts are free and unlimited in 90% of all calling plans and prepaid offers... so you can basically communicate in real time even when you're out of data coverage, even with dumbphones... and when you have data coverage you can send unlimited mms to smart-and feature phones... So I don't really see what's big and new with BBM.
Apart from that, there are already plenty of Gtalk/MSN apps for each and every platforms, allowing you to instantly chat with people on their phones / computers...
am I missing something ?

 

[kuebby]

If they slap a really terrible interface to it then it will be just like having a Blackberry. Cool.

That mad me laugh, probably because it's true.

I would probably pay a small (read: sub $5) one-time fee for BBM but there's no way I'd pay any kind of recurring fee, even $5/month. I already pay for unlimited texting so it's really just a luxury.

 

[ednamartin36]

That true. I never likes the BB and there is no use of making their messaging available on iPhone. There are many other applications available like Nimbuzz or Fring to connect with friends.

 

[Yaboze]

I know a lot of people that have BB's and use BBM. They have BB's because of work or they just HAVE to have a keyboard. When they want to chat with me, they text me. Text plan rates are the biggest ripoff known to man. I would pay for a BBM client for my iPhone 4 that uses data (and very little at that) to be able to chat with BB owners. I would pay up to 4.99 for a BBM App on the App Store.

 

[heisenberg123]

im sure BlacBerry will charge for this, how else will they benefit??

I think BlackBerry will lose sale, most people I know keep their blackberry because of BBM

they wouldnt benifit finacially if they gave it away true, but RIM is mad that whatsapp is selling so many copies at 99cents, making money off the whole BBM concept so they are not happy about that

i can see them making it free to try and kill little companies like Kik and whatsapp

 

[elppa]

This is either brilliant or dumb:

It might be dumb because BBM is the killer app for Blackberry, no doubt. For all their talk of super apps, RIM only has one super app: BBM. It sells hardware. What would you rather sell: a $200 - $600 phone (to a carrier) or lots of $5 app. Bare in mind RIM are still selling phones in volume.

It might be brilliant because by getting more people hooked on BBM they are greatly expanding their market reach. And there might be a halo effect with people moving to Blackberry for the premier messaging experience. With many more eyes using their product they could integrate targeted ads as well. This has particular potential for groups all interested in one activity.

 

[gkarris]

The companies I used to work for - there was a monthly charge for BBM Enterprise per user - hence only District Managers and above got them.

It's not the cellular fee, it's some sort of infrastructure fee to tie your Enterprise System to BBM... (and it was cheaper per seat/month than MS Outlook Mobile - or whatever it was called).

That's why they want to expand to other platforms - $...

 

[levitynyc]

Why doesn't everyone just switch to Kik, which is free?

 

[deannnnn]

The only arguments my BBM-loving friends make for the service are that it's faster and you can tell if the other person read your message.

Texting is fast enough for me, and I don't want people to know when I'm ignoring them. So. No thanks.

 

[rayzorboriqua]

Why doesn't everyone just switch to Kik, which is free?

The whole reason they are even finally moving to multiplatform is cause they are catching on to things like kik. Thats why kik is getting sued. They are tired of people making exact mimicks of their software. So they figure if people are gonna steal their idea and try to go multipatform with it, might as well give them the 1st party app and do it the right way. Look at Pmessenger. That died rather quickly too haha. Its hard for any IM client to compete over facebook now. even AIM died.

 

[Papa Crown]

I own an iphone and a bb... honestly, I only use the bbm for the group chats, which is something even whatsapp and kik can replace

 

[DiamondGCoupe]

No one uses Kik, it was cool when it first came out but now it's dead. We need a dedicated iOS App like BBM.

 

[Thnkdifferent]

Way to give away your only "advantage" RIM. We need a dedicated iPhone communicator. Maybe when they revamp the notification system?

 

[jbuck777]

The only arguments my BBM-loving friends make for the service are that it's faster and you can tell if the other person read your message.

Texting is fast enough for me, and I don't want people to know when I'm ignoring them. So. No thanks.

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't exactly want to broadcast the times I'm outright ignoring peoples messages

 

[coolbreeze]

Not to be shallow, but my wife and I use Emoij a lot.

I love how it's built into the Android version of whatsapp. My wife has an iPhone which it works on as well.


If BBM doesn't have these icons, it's dead in the water for us at least...

 

[franswa za]

jim ballsilly of rim is such a desperate man........

 

[mudman2]

I don't talk to people with blackberries anymore so its no use to me

 

[domness]

Out of my friends, it seems the only good thing a blackberry is for is for BBM.. This is definitely going to decrease the point of having a blackberry now.