BBM update rolled out

BlackBerry's messenger service receives upgrades for Android and iOS platforms

BlackBerry has announced a series of updates for its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service for iPhone and Android platforms that will be rolled out Friday, 15th November 2013.
BBM, which was downloaded more than 20 millions time in the week after its re-launch in October, has been upgraded to fix a series of glitches, as well to add new features.
For iOS, BBM will now support iPod and iPad devices, and an issue where some users would be missing BBM contact names has now been fixed, according to the company.
Some issues with language support have also been remedied.
For both platforms BlackBerry have launched a ‘tell your friends’ feature to help you connect using BBM’s sharing tools.
You will also be able to invite BBM contacts to BBM Groups by email, even if you do not know their PIN.
Specifically for Android, BlackBerry say they have addressed an issue where some users were experiencing very high battery use, as well as creating BBM contact categories.
BBM used to be exclusive to BlackBerry smartphones, but is now available as a free download in Google Play and the App Store.
Android smartphones must be running Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean (Android 4.x) and iPhones must be running iOS 6 and iOS 7.
Android and iPhone users who download the BBM app can carry out both one-on-one and group text chats, and share files such as photos and voice notes instantly.
Using the ‘Broadcast Message’ function they can also send messages to all of their BBM contacts in one go.
BBM is widely recognised as BlackBerry’s most prized asset apart from its corporate email, but its 80 million users are less than half the 200 million people who use WhatsApp across platforms.
Upon re-launching the service, Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President of BBM, said: “It is great to see so many people downloading BBM, but the true measurement for us is engagement – the connections being made and the conversations in which our BBM community engages.
"The power of BBM has always been the active, real conversations and interaction that our customers enjoy.
“From here on out, we will focus on active users of BBM and will no longer focus on simple download numbers.”

Source : The Telegraph