BlackBerry declares war on WhatsApp with BBM for Android and iOS

May 14th, 2013, 23:39 Posted By: wraggster

BlackBerry has announced its once hallowed BlackBerry Messenger service will launch for Android and iOS this summer, which comes in an attempt to pull back interest as the market becomes flooded with copycat solutions.
Describing the over-the-top (OTT) messaging app as a 'mobile social network,' BlackBerry promises to 'set the standard for mobile instant messaging with a fast, reliable, engaging experience'. Android and iOS users will have full access to solo and multi-person BBM chats, photo sharing, and voice notes.
The debut on the Google and Apple operating systems comes as rival service WhatsApp offers mobile users messages access across different platforms, while often finding itself the subject $1 billion takeover rumours.
BBM boasts more than 60m monthly active users, while over 51m use the service for an average of 90 minutes a day. Furthermore, users send and receive over 10 billion messages a day, which BlackBerry claims is almost twice as much as many other messaging apps.
To put the figures into context, WhatsApp processed 18 billion messages on New Year's Eve, a rise on ten billion messages a day back in August 2012.
Andrew Bocking, EVP, software product management and ecosystem, at BlackBerry, said: "For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service.
"BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...and-ios/021349

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