After BlackBerry's rollout of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Android and iPhone was thwarted by a previously-unreleased, older version of the Android app, the clock is now ticking for the company to rectify the matter.
BBM for Android and iPhone was expected to be released at the weekend, but rollout was halted after an unreleased, older version of the BBM for Android app was posted on numerous file-sharing sites. Despite the app being an unofficial version that was leaked, it garnered more than 1.1 million downloads in the first eight hours after being released.
Head of BBM Andrew Bocking says the older version resulted in volumes of data traffic orders of magnitude higher than normal for each active user and impacted the system in abnormal ways. "The version we were planning to release on Saturday addressed these issues; however, we could not block users of the unreleased version if we went ahead with the launch.
"We attempted to address the problems caused by the unreleased version throughout the day on Saturday, but as active users of the unreleased app neared a million, and accelerated, it became clear that the only way to address the issue was to pause the rollout for both Android and iPhone."
Bocking says the company is now working around the clock to adjust the system to completely block this unreleased version of the Android app and go live with the official BBM for Android app. "This will take some time and I do not anticipate launching this week."
Strategic move?
Tech analyst Liron Segev says it is unclear how the unofficial version of the Android app managed to get released, but pointed out this happens all the time. "Unreleased versions of apps or operating systems get leaked quite often."
Some say these leaks happen for strategic reasons, and gives the company a chance to fix the bugs before the official version is released, Segev notes. However, he doesn't believe this to be the case with the BBM for Android app.
Another theory doing the rounds is that BlackBerry actually delayed the rollout of the official app because of its negotiations with Fairfax, he says. BlackBerry has agreed to go private in a $4.7 billion deal led by its biggest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings. "There might be elements to this rumour that are true, but I don't know. It's hard say." Segev points out that BlackBerry still continued with the launch of the Z30, despite negotiations with Fairfax.
Technical nightmare
Segev says addressing the problems presented by the old version of the app presents numerous technical difficulties for BlackBerry. "The system is complex, with multiple operating systems running across multiple channels, and presents a whole bunch of technical issues. [BlackBerry] did try to make [the old app] inoperable under certain conditions, but because it is released to a worldwide population with different time zones, and they now have to stop one system and introduce a new system, it presents a technological nightmare."
He notes BlackBerry is under pressure to release the official BBM app as quickly as possible for a number of reasons. "Firstly, there is a big hype around BBM, and they have to capitalise on this. There was big disappointment when the official app was not released, so they have to get it out."
He says it is expected that the official app will be released quickly, because of BlackBerry's promise that it is working on this around the clock. "Also, a lot of people have egg on their faces now, like Samsung. They need to make it right."
Everything that is currently being said about the BBM app should be taken with a pinch of salt until the official version has been released, comments Segev. He mentions a complaint by users that claim the app requires the user to rate the app five stars before it can be used. "Until the official version is released, you can't take anything that anyone is saying seriously."
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