BBM IOS and Android Application Enters Beta Testing Ahead Of Launching
BBM IOS AND Android Application
In recent years the
roll out of many instant messenger apps in Android and iOS platforms has tempted BlackBerry
to create their own cross-platform messenger application. Though BlackBerry is yet to officially
announce the exact launching date of BBM service, the anticipation is at its
peak. The BBM was rumored to hit Android and iOS platforms by June 27 this year. It seems now that the release
event is edging closer to reality by the end of summer.
BBM
or BlackBerry Messenger is an internet
messenger client, which allows the users to instantly exchange messages using
the network connection from their smartphones
and mobile devices. WhatsApp and iMessage
are already overriding the market, while BBM is a comparatively new
member of IM family. A few images of BBM application have been leaked out over
the internet, which reveal the snapshots of the user interface, including
sign-in window, chat screen and menu. The screens look quite similar to
Blackberry Hub fromBB10. BlackBerry has planned for BBM to arrive first on
Android and then on iOS.
Blackberry
has started beta testing for this cross-platform, free-to-use messaging
application. They have invited a number of users to take the BBM Android beta
test. Beta testing is a form of acceptance testing by a bunch of external
users. At the initial phase, the first set of beta test of Android application
involves only some of BlackBerry
employees and their family and friends, who are specially invited by the
company. In order to take part in the beta testing program of the forthcoming
BBM app, the users have to have an Android device, preferably ICS 4.x.x
version. The participants for this beta testing are limited in number and
exclusively invited to take part in the program. They have to sign up for the
BBM beta to help in full-proof testing ofthe application before its global
release at the end of this summer.
So far BlackBerry has maintained silence about
the exact release date of promised BBM Android
and iOS application. It was
announced on July that this cross platform messenger might not be available
until the later part of September. As per the announcement made by a higher
official of BlackBerry India, the service is coming to Android this summer. But
the time refers to North American season, where the summer lasts till the end
of September. Another trusted news source has confirmed back in May that
Canadian manufacturer are not ready to roll-out this free messaging service to
tablet or iPad users until September.
Blackberry is pinning
much hope on BBM from the perspective of business and user experience.
Owing to the open-source mobile platform of Google, BBM for Android
is expected to have more features than its competitor counterparts. It is
anticipated that not all features will be available for transition, as the
company would like to delimit some exclusive features to BlackBerry
hardware only. The expected features in BBM
are chats, groups and voice notes and multi-user chats. BlackBerry will
add some more features later on, like screen sharing, voice and video calls
etc. There is a hint that BlackBerry might consider expanding BBM to desktop
application, so that it can sustain the competition with iMessage, WhatsApp and Google Hangouts.
All evidences so far indicate
the speedy release of BBM in global market. BlackBerry has arranged specialized beta testing from an exclusive
group of testers. The members of this testing service are trying out this
Android app for chatting to their BBM
buddies without any BlackBerry device.
Success of this cross-platform application depends largely on the feedback from
the beta testers. Fueling to the speculation of BBM release, the
official website of BlackBerry has included a dedicated landing page for this
new application. The company is expecting high from this instant messaging
service, and so are the millions of users.
SUMMARY
Launching of BBM for Android and iOS is a
highly anticipated event now. Blackberry has exclusively invited some users to
take part in the beta testing program of this new IM application.