BlackBerry announced in May that it would bring its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) platform to iOS and after sending out beta invites to the service in early August, the company has now posted (via TechCrunch) a user guide that suggests the app's launch may be imminent.

BBM, which functions similarly to Apple's iMessage, was one of the first proprietary mobile messaging services and remains popular to this day with more than 60 million monthly active users.

bbm_android

Leaked screenshot of the Android version of BBM

The BBM user guide details how the service works, the available features, and how to create an account. It also offers a rundown on icons and a troubleshooting section.

With BBM, you can chat and share in real-time with your BBM contacts and groups. For example, you can share pictures, see when someone has read your message or is typing a reply, and update your BBM status or picture. Share your news with multiple people using multiperson chats and group chats.

With BBM Groups, you can plan events, track to-do lists, share pictures, and chat with up to 30 people at the same time without needing to add them all as BBM contacts.

According to the user guide, the app will support profiles, barcode invites, multi-media chats, emoticons, and group chats. Like other messaging apps, it will function over both Wi-Fi and cellular connections.

While BlackBerry originally targeted a summer release for the app, the company has yet to narrow down its projected release timeline. With the debut of the beta earlier this month and the subsequent guide, it appears that the app is ready to launch.

Top Rated Comments

robjulo Avatar
132 months ago
:eek: Just look at that Android status bar!

The information only goes there if you choose to have it there. Imagine that, a choice.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joneill55 Avatar
132 months ago
Only 5 years too late!!

The once mighty BB ship has sailed and they will soon be among the many casualties along the information highway!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ValSalva Avatar
132 months ago
Good to see RIM is still trying to pull some strings.

Technically it's no longer "RIM". Pretty soon it may be R.I.P. BlackBerry is dying. This is almost certainly too little too late :(
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
inlinevolvo Avatar
132 months ago
Still hard to believe this once behemoth of a company is now on its way out within what seemed like minutes of the iphone coming out...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imaginex20 Avatar
132 months ago
The problem was that RIM/BBRY tied their messaging system to their PIN which was basically like an IMEI for messaging. They couldn't even figure out how to share email access across blackberry phones and tablets because they had different PINs. You literally had to tether a blackberry phone with a blackberry tablet to have access to email. How stupid is that?

So to get Blackberry Messenger to work on other devices required some serious work on their backend. SMH @ BBRY
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jimmy James Avatar
132 months ago
A few years ago this would have been a big deal and they would have cornered the market.

Still, I hope they do well with it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 for All iPhones and iPads

Tuesday September 26, 2023 12:47 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates, with the software coming five days after the releases of iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1. Today's iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates arrive as build 21A351 and can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Note that iOS 17.0.2 was previously made available for iPhone...
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.1 Beta 1

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:57 pm PDT by
Just a week after releasing iOS 17, Apple has seeded the first beta of iOS 17.1 to developers. iOS 17.1 adds some features that Apple promised were coming to iOS 17 in the future, plus it refines and improves some existing features. This guide covers everything new in the first iOS 17.1 beta. Apple Music Favorites You can favorite songs, albums, playlists, and artists in the iOS 17.1...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Concerns Highlighted in Two More Reports

Thursday September 28, 2023 6:25 am PDT by
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max overheating concerns continue to make headlines this week, with the topic highlighted by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Both of the reports document anecdotal complaints from customers, and outline potential causes, but it's unclear how many devices are actually affected. Bloomberg said the overheating could be caused or compounded by the iPhone's setup...
iPhone 15 Pro Lineup Feature

Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issues Likely Due to Thermal Compromises, Not 3nm Node

Tuesday September 26, 2023 9:12 am PDT by
Complaints about heat issues with the iPhone 15 Pro models are not related to TSMC's 3-nanometer node that was used for the A17 Pro chip, according to well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that overheating could be caused by "compromises made in the thermal system design" that allowed Apple to cut down on the weight of the iPhone 15 Pro models. Kuo says that the reduced heat...
iPhone 15 USB C Port Keynote

Some USB-C Power Banks Fail to Work With iPhone 15

Thursday September 28, 2023 2:06 pm PDT by
Apple added a USB-C port to the iPhone 15 lineup this year, allowing it to work with USB-C cables, USB-C power banks, and more. It turns out that some USB-C battery packs are not working properly with Apple's iPhone 15, resulting in charging issues. As highlighted on Reddit and the MacRumors forums, not all existing USB-C power banks can be used with the iPhone 15 models, perhaps due to the...
Mac Gaming

Apple Explains How Game Mode Works in macOS Sonoma

Wednesday September 27, 2023 2:24 am PDT by
In macOS Sonoma, Game Mode prioritizes CPU and GPU performance for gaming purposes on Macs. For those unfamiliar with Game Mode, Apple on Tuesday published a support document providing more information on how to use the new feature. Game Mode optimizes your gaming experience by giving your game the highest priority access to your CPU and GPU, lowering usage for background tasks. And it...