BlackBerry Messenger has brought massive popularity to the platform apart from its encrypted email services. Boy Genius Report has learned from multiple sources that Research in Motion plans to release a cross-platform version of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Google Android and Apple iOS platforms. RIM is planning to release the BBM app first on Android and then on iOS. Currently, RIM is strategizing on whether to give away the BBM for free or charge users once for using the BBM service on iOS or Android.
The BBM service is incorporated in the BlackBerry OS itself and recently, the BBM 6.0 version was reportedly leaked on the web. RIM has remained tight-lipped about the new family of touch based BlackBerry handsets for this year which were hinted in the leaked roadmap of the company.
It is quite possible that BBM 6.0 would be released with the BlackBerry OS 6.1 Evolution update which is expected to arrive sometime in the second half of this year. So if RIM has plans to release BBM for Android and iOS, it would be announced along with the BB OS 6.1 update.
Currently, the BBM service faces competition from multi-platform WhatsApp and Kik messenger.
RIM was given a green signal to continue with BBM services in India after the company gave lawful access solution.
