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
125 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
125 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
125 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
125 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
125 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
125 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

iOS 16

iOS 16.4 for iPhone Nearing Launch With These 5 New Features

Monday March 20, 2023 11:50 am PDT by
Apple says iOS 16.4 is coming in the spring, which began this week. In his Sunday newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the update should be released "in the next three weeks or so," meaning a public release is likely in late March or early April. iOS 16.4 remains in beta testing and introduces a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone. Below, we have recapped five new features ...
iPhone 15 Pro Buttons CAD Leak

iPhone 15 Pro Leak Reveals Unified Volume Button and Mute Button

Monday March 20, 2023 8:33 am PDT by
As previously rumored, the next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a unified volume button and a mute button, according to leaked CAD images shared in a video on the Chinese version of TikTok and posted to Twitter by ShrimpApplePro. Instead of separate buttons for volume up and volume down, the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to have a single elongated button for...
voice isolation

iOS 16.4 Adds Voice Isolation for Cellular Phone Calls

Tuesday March 21, 2023 11:01 am PDT by
The iOS 16.4 update that is set to be released to the public in the near future includes voice isolation for cellular calls, according to notes that Apple shared today. Apple says that Voice Isolation will prioritize your voice and block out the ambient noise around you, making for clearer phone calls where you can better hear the person you're chatting with and vice versa. Voice...
airpodsd 3 purple 4

iOS 16.4 Seemingly References New AirPods and AirPods Case

Tuesday March 21, 2023 11:43 am PDT by
The iOS 16.4 release candidate version that was provided to developers today appears to hint at a new set of AirPods that could be coming in the near future. According to @aaronp613, the beta features references to AirPods that have a model number of A3048 and an AirPods case with a model number of A2968. There have been no rumors that new AirPods are on the horizon, and it is early for...
maxresdefault

Nothing Launches $149 Ear (2) Wireless Earbuds to Compete With AirPods Pro 2

Wednesday March 22, 2023 9:48 am PDT by
Nothing today announced the launch of its second-generation wireless earbuds, the Nothing Ear (2), which offer many of the same features as Apple's AirPods Pro 2 at a lower price point. We went hands-on with the Ear (2) earbuds to see whether they're a viable alternative to the AirPods Pro 2 for those who want to save some cash. The Ear (2) earbuds are the successor to the Nothing Ear (1),...
iOS 16

Apple Seeds Release Candidate Versions of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 to Developers [Update: Public RC Available]

Tuesday March 21, 2023 10:25 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the launch of the fourth betas. The RCs mark the final version of the software that will be provided to the public in the near future. Registered developers are able to download the iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates...
apple park at night 1

Apple 'Tracking Employee Attendance' in Crackdown on Remote Working

Thursday March 23, 2023 3:41 am PDT by
Apple is tracking the attendance of its employees at offices using badge records in order to ensure they are coming in at least three times a week, according to Platformer's Zoë Schiffer. Since April 2022, Apple employees have been operating on a hybrid home/office work policy as part of a gradual return strategy following the pandemic, with staff required to work from the office at least...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple feature purple

iPhone 15 Pro Rumor Recap: 10 New Features and Changes to Expect

Thursday March 23, 2023 6:42 am PDT by
While the iPhone 15 series is still around six months away from launching, there have already been plenty of rumors about the devices. Many new features and changes have been rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in particular. Below, we have recapped 10 changes rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models that are not expected to be available on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus:A1...