BlackBerry Messenger coming to iOS, Android

Following years of exclusively being available only on the BlackBerry platform, the highly popular Blackberry Messaging Service, more commonly referred to as BBM will come to iOS and Android later this year.

The announcement was made by BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins at the BlackBerry Jam Americas event in Florida. The announcement is seen as a reactionary move in response to the emergence and popularity of cross platform messaging apps WhatsApp, Viber, and Line. Facebook has also asserted itself into the messaging space with a standalone app Facebook Messenger, and the innovative Chat Heads which allows Android users to keep chats active while on other apps.

Heins says the the move is a “statement of confidence” for Blackberry’s new platform BB10. He adds the new operating system’s prospects are, "so strong that we are confident that BBM can become an independent messaging solution."

Support
Upon release BBM for iOS and Android will support iOS 6 and above and Android version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above. The app will be free a free download from both the iTunes app store and Google Play.

iOS and Android users will be able to add contacts through BBM PIN, email, SMS or QR code scan regardless of platform. Android users will also get the ability to add contacts via compatible NFC-capable devcies.

Features
With the release of BB 10 OS, BBM received an upgrade adding new features like video calling and screen sharing. BBM for iOS and Android will initially only include messaging and groups. Heins says the full experience will come, “later on.”

BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers. BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day. BBM for iOS and Android is slated for a summer 2013 release, so expect it to arrive from June to August of this year.
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