The BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service is one of the core features on the BlackBerry platform, which has contributed to its success in the past. Now it looks like BlackBerry is planning on turning its proprietary service into a multi-platform experience.BlackBerry Messenger will arrive on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android this summer and will be available as a free download. However in order to run BBM you will require iOS 6.0 or higher on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch while Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or higher is required if your device is powered by the little green robot.
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins said the following about the company's decision to bring BBM to Android and Blackberry:
"It’s time to bring BBM to a greater audience . . no matter what mobile device they carry."Heins also promised that iOS and Android users will get a fully fleged version of BBM, rather than a half-baked service
"We're starting with messaging and groups, but we’ll bring voice, screen share, and of course, channels later on."BBM has a difficult road ahead and will go head to head against services like WhatsApp, which is a well established cross-platform messaging service which boasts millions of users. Will the introduction of BBM for Android and iOS drive customers back to the once thriving BlackBerry platform? We will have to see if this decision ends up profiting BlackBerry or just hurting the company more.