BlackBerry has announced that its BBM messaging service is going cross-platform, and will be heading to iOS and Android as a standalone app in the Summer.
The BBM app will support Apple devices running iOS 6 and newer, while Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will be the dividing line for Android users.
BlackBerry says iOS and Android users will get much of the same features and functions found in the native version of BBM, including groups functionality, voice features and screen sharing.
At present BBM has 60 million users, and it says 10bn messages are sent every day. The company will no doubt be hoping those numbers jump, and that BBM's wider reputation will give it the edge over rival services already on offer.
BlackBerry also introduced BBM Channels today, a Facebook Pages-style addition to its chat service that will allow brands and individuals to create their own channels. When a channel is updated with new content, users who follow that Channel will receive a notification.
At present, Channels is in beta, but will launch in full over the Summer, potentially in conjunction with the rollout of the Android and iOS BBM apps.
Via BGR
