Dubai: A dedicated BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) social group is dismayed by the news that BB services are to be suspended in October.
Faheem Wahid, 22, British Pakistani has three BlackBerrys, and loves BBM so much that he set up his group "BlackBerry Messenger Lovers" on networking site Social Circles Dubai.
"Everyone is using BB for social and business, as we are connected with friends now, from everywhere in the world. It will disturb our routine life, as BB makes life easier and convenient. It's user-friendly, fast and easy to communicate and with any other messenger it's not like that," Wahid told Gulf News via BBM.
Have your say: What do you think about the TRA's decision?
The messaging service operates like a chat service, allowing users to send messages to multiple recipients simultaneously. Wahid has a group of 300 on his BBM and another of 85.
"I'm an IT person, I love communication. If BB will [be] block[ed], I won't be able to keep in touch with my friends… as everyone has a BlackBerry," he said.
Another Social Circler said that many of her work colleagues use BBM when they are on-site and don't have PC access.
Statement from etisalat on the TRA decision
du statement on the TRA decision
Social media users also reacted online. Some Tweeters predicted that the suspension would be good for the Apple iPhone, while others said the brand name should be changed to "BlockBerry".
"No longer sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device" another user tweeted.
Social networking site Facebook was equally abuzz with references to the news of the suspension, with some joking about reverting to using old-style handsets such as the Nokia 3310.
A dedicated group was also set up on Facebook on Sunday, called "Don't stop BlackBerry Service".
