Blackberry Loses Its Last Reason To Exist, By Offering Up Messenger For iOS
March 3, 2011
Research In Motion’s (RIM) popular BlackBerry Messenger service is coming to iOS devices as an app, according to an exclusive BGR report. This will allow iPhone/iPod touch users to communicate with anyone who has a smart phone using the BBM service. However, the app will be a stripped down version of the real thing.
Non-BlackBerry users currently rely on apps such as WhatsApp and Kik to communicate with Messenger customers. However, according to BGR, RIM was unhappy with these third-party attempts and decided to release their own app.
The Messenger app will not include two key components: the ability to share photos and location information.
Some may see RIM's decision to offer a service on a competing platform as counterproductive. However, it seems sound. It will open up the BlackBerry experience to others.
RIM will release an Android version of Messenger before the iOS app hits the App Store. However, both versions are expected sometime in 2011 for an undetermined price.
