BlackBerry Sweetens BBM for Android and iOS

"This really shows that BBM is a messaging platform rather than just a marketing tool or gimmick the company is using to get more device sales," said Jeff Orr, senior practice director with ABI Research. "BlackBerry has shown that it's very responsive to the needs of the market -- it continues to update and innovate on the platform. This all bodes well." 

After releasing its BlackBerry Messenger chat app for Android and iOS devices to considerable fanfare last fall, BlackBerry on Thursday announced that it had expanded the app's functionality on those platforms with two key features.

 Previously available only to users of BlackBerry's own mobile platform, BBM Voice and BBM Channels are now part of the company's offerings for Android and iPhone users as well, giving those customers the ability to make free voice calls to BBM contacts over a WiFi or data connection, as well as chat with other BBM users about topics of mutual interest.

 "Today's announcement gives Android and iPhone customers two great ways to connect with friends, family and colleagues, to build out communities around shared interests, and to follow favorite people and brands," said John Sims, BlackBerry's president of Global Enterprise Solutions.

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