Dubai: In the first week of launch of its instant messaging service BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) for Android-based handsets and iPhone, BlackBerry said its chat application now has more than 80 million monthly active users, including over 20 million new users on Android and iPhone devices.
During its first week, BBM was the top free overall app in 35 countries in Google Play and in 107 countries in the App Store, and continues to maintain a strong position in key markets such as Canada, the US, the UK, Indonesia and much of the Middle East, to name a few.
“It is great to see so many people downloading BBM, but the true measurement for us is engagement — the connections being made and the conversations in which our BBM community engages. The power of BBM has always been the active, real conversations and interaction that our customers enjoy,” Andrew Bocking, executive vice-president of BBM at BlackBerry, said. “From here on, we will focus on active users of BBM and will no longer focus on simple download numbers.”
BBM users can also share files such as photos and voice notes as well as update their statuses with ease. BBM groups allows photo, calendar, chat and file sharing for up to 30 people in a user-generated community.
Every BBM user has a unique PIN that helps maintains privacy, so users never have to give out their phone number or email address to a new or casual contact. BlackBerry ID connects with a person’s PIN, BBM contact list and services to make device switching quick and easy.
The BBM experience will continue to evolve. In the coming months, BlackBerry will deliver BBM video calling, BBM voice calling and BBM Channels — a new community building service to connect BBM users even more broadly to Android and iPhone users.
