BlackBerry Messenger on iPhone and Android: security and ... - Engadget

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How many instant messaging applications fit on your phone? Or set to expand a view, on your computer, tablet, or any of the devices that help us to establish communications. Release not stop appearing alternatives , multiplatform, which aim to highlight the rest.

We must stop and think if some of them can coexist in one device – poor batteries -. I think it’s a fact, and although there is always a priority use some, we may have an additional, or dedicated to a particular use, determined by its special features. That I think is the initial bet your class=”caps”> BlackBerry BBM , do not expect people to migrate to them, but be inside your phone, accompanying to those that have already been installed, and gradually show that your approach is the best . Do they come later?

Today

Android, iPhone morning

We will discover

BBM , was a reality recognized before many of the characters appear on the map – there are more than sixty million user – but the dimension that has its outlet in iOS and Android platforms , forces us to speak practically of a new service.

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his coming-in Google and Apple platforms, we find a first phase, which have brought the core of service – with all the guarantees that have made BlackBerry reliable – leaving behind two important pillars as BlackBerry Video and Voice , which will arrive later (nor is the screen sharing, but I think that is part of the integration with BlackBerry10).

2.5 million users have registered on BBM . com to download the application

The main problem is to find BBM to succeed is that – for a change – a little late arriving , with lots of alternatives already installed on phones of the people.

think they’re going to have to work very seriously the promotion of service – in addition to ear mouth, which I think will be positive – in digital and traditional media, as does competition. For now, I do not mean to lend a hand, but I think just getting to know what are your strengths:

BBM provides security

Among its virtues are those of a digital free solution , which operates globally, and has security as the main claim to highlight the alternatives. BBM works on their servers, with reliability and proven data encryption. Little is known about the level of encryption of information of the alternatives, and this may be worth to consider in professional environments.

The next step they want to value, and I think is important, is the management our agenda . In the BlackBerry service contact form through our pin, associated with a BlackBerry ID . Both the generate to give us high into the application, and is what we share to communicate. To become the most complete solution would have to open the doors of our PC desktop.

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class=”caps”> , we can say that is WhatsApp and Line – on another level, more complete, are Skype, Hangouts, Viber, even Facebook – in the first case we have a major weakness when it comes to give us high as our phone number, so that if we let go of it, we also lose the account and contacts.

I had use of the application on BlackBerry OS7, and now with the Android version, I have the perception that I am always a safe environment , and they are not going to raid contacts I know, added through the phone number or e-partner. Whenever I have the option to block, but I have not been presented the situation in BBM . With respect to stability, having fallen very important point of the servers, we can expect more stable over time than in some competing alternatives.

How far have gotten my messages?

This aspect is one of the most value in BBM , I have always clear what my message was sent, and when it has been read (maybe not something that appeals to everyone). To make this matter clear, I think the best is to make a comparison with WhatsApp :

• A check means that the message is sent to the server
• Two checks that the server sent to the receiver
• No confirmation that the recipient has read it really

, the way in which we report the process is different, and more complete. It is clear that some may not like this option, we have four different icons:

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waves indicate that the message is being sent
• A first check, which has been successfully sent to the server
• A second check with the letter D tells us about the arrival of the message to the receiver’s phone
• Finally we have a check with the letter R , which informs us that the recipient has read the message.

More than a migration, a complementary service

already said in the introduction of the article, I think there is room for different communication solutions in one Android phone or iOS. Despite having a higher energy expenditure because of the notifications, is something that many users will not consider, and prefer to play with several.

Considering

WhatsApp has decided that its service has an annual cost from the second year – very small, but we must do it – many people take the leap to alternatives such as Line, and who knows if BBM not know also take this situation.

Starting from the idea that the user experience will end up being as BlackBerry 10 – including voice and video – I think many people will give it a try, at least I’m doing. I also find that there will be interest in many of the users who until recently used BlackBerry , and have jumped to Android or iPhone.

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hope I have made clear which offers BBM class=”caps”> to iOS and Android users, but it is interesting to think what wins BlackBerry this , and need income. Others have shown in the past – Google, Facebook-that we should not have direct revenue from the sale of applications or services, but will have to make a very big promotion so that people become aware that they are there. In the future it can open doors as advertising, or other household products such as BBM class=”caps”> Channels, which bring the service to the idea of ??social networking.

I had occasion to ask about future developments, and although there is nothing on desktop or Windows Phone, do not close the doors in the future. I can also anticipate that the system is the traditional emoticons included, we saw in BlackBerry 10 with hidden icons, and other developments that may reach third, but not planned to start a business around this, as does for example Line.

So looks

BBM on iPhone and Android

At the time we published this article, you will have access the Android version of BlackBerry Messenger, while iPhone users will have to wait until tomorrow. You have a gallery of pictures of both versions throughout the article, we return to the larger share below. Snapshots are official and are taken from a iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 :

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Photo Gallery

(Click on an image to enlarge)

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You can see that the look is very similar to what we know in BlackBerry 10, and there are hardly any differences between versions. We find sliding menus, and the same design language elements and menus. In this sense nothing surprising, just functional and without fanfare. The Android app moves pretty soft in the terminal that I can try, an LG Optimus G, plus look better on a larger screen than the Z10.

Availability . The Android app will be available on Google Play throughout the afternoon – hopefully not stretch much at the weekend – although I’m sure many of you’ll ever have the same through images being moving through the network. For iPhone, the day 22, so that in countries like New Zealand or Australia, and are accessing it.

When we really are in our market, let the corresponding links below:

Free Download | Apple Store | Google Play

Update, from the Facebook BlackBerry urge patience with the arrival of the versions, and from the BBM class=”caps”> , are announced that it has reached India, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates, but it seems that things are going slower than expected.

More information | BBM
Pictures | BlackBerry