Subscribe

'BBM' joins English language

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 14 Sept 2012

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has reached a new milestone. The Collins English Dictionary has said 'BBM' will be included in the latest edition, making the term officially part of the English language.

According to Research In Motion (RIM), this decision is reflective of the messaging service's global popularity. Over 56 million people worldwide use BBM, with 70% of users 'BBMing' daily.

The company adds that the announcement reinforces myriad cultural references to 'BBM'. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt recently said: “All I gotta do is thank a few people on my BBM with my congrats and that's pretty much it,” following his winning the 100m Olympic gold at London.

Other celebrities, including Tinie Tempah and Sean Kingston, have both mentioned BBM in their respective songs, 'Miami to Ibiza' and 'BBM'.

TA McCann, VP, BBM and Social Communities at BlackBerry maker RIM, said: “The inclusion of BBM in the Collins English Dictionary recognises its status as one of the world's most popular mobile social networks. In recent years, the term 'BBM' has transcended its technological origins to become a brand that is part of the everyday language of millions of people all over the world.”

Share