BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) will be available for Android from 21 September and for iPhone from 22 September.
BlackBerry has announced in a statement that the well-known BBM instant chat application will be available for free download from the Google Play and App store.
According to executive vice-president for BBM, Andrew Bocking, BBM is an engaging messaging service that is simple to use, easy to personalise and has an immediacy that is necessary for mobile communications. "With more than a billion Android, iOS, and BlackBerry smartphones in the market, and no dominant mobile messaging platform, this is absolutely the right time to bring BBM to Android and iPhone customers," he says.
The ailing smartphone company announced plans to open up its messaging service in May, and subsequently partnered with Samsung in August to bring BBM to all Galaxy devices. At the time, George Ferreira, VP and COO of Samsung Electronics Africa, said a messaging service like BBM expands the brand's catalogue of messaging offerings.
Further expansion for BBM is planned for the future, says BlackBerry. Later this year, BBM Channels will be available that will provide a forum for conversation between the user and other people, brands, celebrities, artists, service providers and communities. "By creating a channel, individuals and brands can engage their friends and communities in conversations sparked by their thoughts, ideas and passions. Subscribing to a channel will let you join conversations with people who share your interests," says the statement.
In addition, BBM Video calling and BBM Voice calling are planned for availability for Android and iPhone in a future version.
BlackBerry says BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers on BlackBerry alone, and the overwhelming majority use the service 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," says the company.
The news of the rollout of BBM to Android and iPhone comes only a day after BlackBerry launched its new Z30 flagship smartphone. The long-rumoured Z30 device will be BlackBerry's new flagship smartphone, taking the crown from the smaller Z10 that was launched early this year.
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