BBM for iOS Updated With Voice Calls, Channels, Dropbox Support

Thursday February 13, 2014 9:24 PM PST by Juli Clover
BBM.pngBlackBerry Messenger for iOS was today updated to version 2.0, adding a number of features to the app that have long been a part of the native BBM function on BlackBerry's own line of phones.

Version 2 of BBM for iOS now supports direct voice calling between BBM users over Wi-Fi or cellular networks. Channels, another feature new to the update, allow users to communicate in a group setting focused on a specific topic.
BBM Channels lets users chat with other BBM users about topics that interest them. Customers can join channels about a range of topics from products, hobbies and sports to entertainment, fashion, cars and more. Channels can be created by brands, businesses and BBM users alike and are a great way to communicate directly and immediately with people who share common interests in the broader BBM community. By posting to their channel, channel owners immediately reach their subscribers with a message that can spark discussions.
One-click sharing has been added to the app, making it easier for BBM users to share content like photos and voice messages. The app has gained support for Glympse, which allows users to share locations, and Dropbox support for file sharing is also available.

Finally, the app's emoticon repository has been expanded and users now have access to 100 additional emoticons.


BlackBerry Messenger, which was previously restricted to BlackBerry devices, made its way to iOS and Android back in October of 2013 after several delays. BBM offers basic text chats, group chats, voice messaging, image sharing, and with today’s update, voice calls and channels.

BBM can be downloaded from the App Store for Free. [Direct Link]
52 comments


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mudman2
55 months ago
This is awesome, I use it constantly oh wait, thats iMessage
Rating: 7 Votes
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QCassidy352
55 months ago
Because how could you text, share images, and make voice calls before this app came along??
Rating: 3 Votes
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decksnap
55 months ago

I guess that's why the DoD in the US just bought 80,000 BB phones. What folks in this thread forget, BBM is more secure then any other messaging service.


Nope.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/23/5338012/pentagon-absolutely-no-new-orders-for-blackberry-dod (http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/23/5338012/pentagon-absolutely-no-new-orders-for-blackberry-dod)
Rating: 2 Votes
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super tomtendo
55 months ago
BBM was awesome back in the day, but when iMessage came out, it defeated the purpose of BBM. Data text messages. However, iMessage needs to update and add more features, like.... Leaving a group chat....
Rating: 1 Votes
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iSayuSay
55 months ago

Everything but the last sentence was really painful to read.


Well then I hit the spot. That's exactly my point to someone who considering everything made by Apple is better than anything else.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Nanasaki
55 months ago

This is awesome, I use it constantly oh wait, thats iMessage


But iMessage only available on iDevices and Mac. This is at least multi-platform. In which world are you living that everybody surrounding you only using iDevices?

And it seems have more features than iMessage anyway.
Rating: 1 Votes
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iSayuSay
55 months ago

iMessage is not only an SMS with blue balloons... i hope you were joking.

i personally actually prefer SMS, because it's more secure. you know if you send a message, it wouldn't show up on an iPad the recipient's wife might be using, or another iPad the recipient's kid is playing. You don't have to worry about security, privacy, and self-incriminating acts. you also don't have to worry about the lack of cellular data connections with SMS. in that regards it's way more reliable. i would 100% use SMS w/ my friends, if they don't always complain about their stingy text plan. seriously i don't get why don't all people have unlimited text plan now days....but i know my opinion is probably of minority as most people prefer the convenience of iMessage over privacy/security/control.


I hope I did, but sorry I don't. Actually it's even worse than SMS. Aside from having read receipt and send voice/pictures, what can you get more of it? Blue ballons, right?

iMessage is the weakest messaging services of all. People use it just because its integration into Apple devices and a bit more convenient.
But like you said, it's very frustrating to manage which devices receive which messages. Especially if you manage an Apple ID with multiple person/devices, it becomes very buggy and messages appear where you don't want it to.

BBM is simple, secure, and ubiquitous than ever now it's on iOS and Android. I wouldn't consider buying a Blackberry handset, but BBM service is just awesome. Also there are more casual alternatives like Whatsapp, Line, etc. But in the end, they're all offer waay more than iMessage.
Rating: 1 Votes
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C DM
55 months ago

I hope I did, but sorry I don't. Actually it's even worse than SMS. Aside from having read receipt and send voice/pictures, what can you get more of it? Blue ballons, right?

iMessage is the weakest messaging services of all. People use it just because its integration into Apple devices and a bit more convenient.
But like you said, it's very frustrating to manage which devices receive which messages. Especially if you manage an Apple ID with multiple person/devices, it becomes very buggy and messages appear where you don't want it to.

BBM is simple, secure, and ubiquitous than ever now it's on iOS and Android. I wouldn't consider buying a Blackberry handset, but BBM service is just awesome. Also there are more casual alternatives like Whatsapp, Line, etc. But in the end, they're all offer waay more than iMessage.

Well, there's the advantage of being able to receive and send from multiple devices including a desktop computer (running one of the more recent versions of OS X). Not something that most messaging services provide and something that at least some if not more people can and do find quite useful.
Rating: 1 Votes
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iLog.Genius
55 months ago

iMessage is incredibly stable for the most part in the past year compared to BlackBerry's BBM I can vouch for this personally as I go back and forth between iOS and BB10 often but at full stints at a time. But I'd like to see iMessage expanded ... maybe even unified between FaceTime and also with document sharing in a more seamless way.


I agree. Apple already has the features they need, albeit as different applications and they also have something BBM doesn't and that's an extension to desktops. iMessage for OS X is a complete joke and is half-assed. It's fine if you just want to send/read messages but it could be so much better...a lot better.
Rating: 1 Votes
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iLog.Genius
55 months ago
I remember watching the keynote when Apple announced iMessage. The crowd went crazy and the forums blew up. I too thought it was going to be something like BBM. I was wrong. iMessage really is just a step above SMS messaging. There's nothing wrong with that but for people to say BBM is some inferior product because of the name behind it is ridiculous. iMessage is just simple messaging where as BBM is more of a tool. Whether you like BlackBerry, BBM or not, whether you plan on using it or not, you can't deny that.
Rating: 1 Votes
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