The jewel in RIM's crown, BlackBerry Messenger, may be making its way to multiple mobile phone platforms, including Android and iOS.
The rumour comes via BGR, which reports that multiple trusted sources have told it that a BlackBerry Messenger app will first be available on Android before making its way to Apple's iOS.
Further details are few and far between – there's no indication yet of timescales or pricing, although the sources are apparently 'confident' that BBM will launch on Android 'some time this year'.
Allowing BlackBerry users to send typed messages to each other completely free of charge, tech blog BGR has revealed “Research In Motion is planning to bring its beloved BlackBerry Messenger app and service to Android, and eventually to iOS as well.” Launch date and pricing information for the cross-platform BBM is still awaited.
The claimed sources reportedly informed BGR that: “RIM has not yet finalized details surrounding timing or pricing” They add: “We have heard that the company might make the software free to all users. We’re also told strategy is still being developed, however, and RIM may end up charging users a one-time fee or even a recurring fee for access to its BBM service on third-party platforms."
With the Apple app due to follow the reportedly imminent Android offering due to the easier to develop open platform the BGR report goes on to conclude: “Right now, we have heard that Android is definitely a go. But again, we’re not sure on timing, though our sources are confident that it will launch some time this year. RIM chose Android first because of the fact that it could develop and integrate something like this much easier with an open platform, but the plan is to build and deploy an iOS version at some point as well,”
Blackberry style
It seems that Android gets to go first because the open platform is much easier to integrate the service into; the restrictive iOS will be more of a challenge.
BlackBerry users currently get BBM free on their handsets, but Android or iOS users may be charged a fee, be it one-time or recurring.
The app may offer a stripped-down version of BBM , which would still allow users to chat with friends but would restrict sharing media or location information; for the full, all-singing all dancing BBM, you'd need to have a BlackBerry handset.
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