It is being reported by BGR that Research In Motion is preparing to bring BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to the open source Android OS first and eventually also onto the iOS platform. The discussions within RIM regarding this port are still early in the process and there are no details on either the timing or price, with some consideration also being given to offer up the app and service as a free product to any user who wants to try it.
Again this is still preliminary because in addition to the free option, there is also some schools of thought within RIM that suggest having a one time user fee or perhaps a recurring fee which would be the cost to use this product on a third party platform. BBM is one of the more popular apps on the RIM smartphone and one may wonder why give it away since it is so well associated with BlackBerry?
When you look at the grand scheme of things, RIM is pretty upset with third party applications like Kik and WhatsApp which provide a user experience based upon something that RIM themselves have generated. By making BBM available on other operating systems, RIM would like to control the entire messaging space.
If and when BBM comes to iOS and Android, their users can expect a scaled down version of the app that BlackBerry owners are accustomed to. The reason for this is to allow iOS and Android users basic access to BBM, but some of the more popular features like sharing pictures and video would be reserved for the full featured BBM that is would only be available on a BlackBerry. What this means is that RIM could own the messaging app category on two of the biggest smartphone operating systems available and they could also generate new Blackberry users by giving customers just a taste of BBM, but requiring them to buy a BlackBerry to get all the features of this app.
Via: BGR
Critics Charge Siri Ads Misleading, Deceptive
GM Pulls Out, Chrysler, Ford Keep facebook Ads
Next iPhone Model To Have Bigger Screens
Facebook Monetization Model Needs Work