The BBM for Android app has officially launched today, with BlackBerry confirming earlier the messaging service will hit the Google Play Store at midday(GMT).
Formally confirmed at BlackBerry Live back in May, the BBM for Android app has been a long time coming, pushing its promised summer arrival to its very limits in landing today, September 21.
“BBM for Android will be available at 12 pm on Saturday 21,” an official statement from the company confirmed in the run up to the launch.
The BBM Android app will be available as a free download and allow users to chat for free with follow BBM users across all platforms. The first time BBM will have been made available to none BlackBerry handset users, the BBM Android app will precede the BBM iOS app by a matter of hours, with the iPhone bound iteration to be rolled out just after midnight.
A launch that is likely to be clouded by other goings on at the company, the BBM Android app release comes in the wake of a fresh round of losses and job cuts at the Canadian based BlackBerry. Having reported anticipated Q2 losses of almost $1 billion, BlackBerry has confirmed that it is to cut 4,500 jobs globally, an announcement which has seen a 17 per cent drop in its share prices, in a single.
“We are implementing the difficult, but necessary operational changes announced today to address our position in a maturing and more competitive industry, and to drive the company toward profitability,” a statement from BlackBerry CEO Thorstein Heins stated yesterday. He added: “Going forward, we plan to refocus our offering on our end-to-end solution of hardware, software and services for enterprises and the productive, professional end user.”
Despite the hard times the Canadian company is currently in, opinions in several quarters have lauded its initiative at offering BBM on other platforms, noting that chat applications like Whatsapp were already phasing BBM out. It’s emergence on the now reigning android OS, they say, would mean Blackberry does not lose out totally on its customers, and yet still have a fair share of those who wouldn’t use a Blackberry smartphone on a good day but would use the BBM since it’s available at no extra cost.
BBM can be downloaded from September 21 and September 22 for Android smartphones and iPhones, respectively.
ATTENTION: Artistes Or Company Brands Looking For THE Ideal Way To Promote Themselves,Or Interested In Alaba Mixes,Online,Radio And TV Promotions In Lagos,Nigeria Contact PGKingPromotions On 08063258075 Or pin:280E1143 And Let US Introduce YOU To The WORLD!
finally d awaiting bbm on andriod as hit d floor…wow tanx to BB…ANDRIOD OYEH!!!!