BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is coming to Android and iOS this summer and according to a T-Mobile UK Tweet the release date is set for June 27th. Of course, nothing is certain until BlackBerry, Google and Apple give the final approval, but that’s a date you’re probably going to want to pencil in your calendar.
When Thorsten Heins announced the news that their popular messaging app would arrive on other platforms he also noted that BBM would be slimmed down. The app will be free and compatible on devices running iOS 6 and Android Ice Cream Sandwich (OS 4.0) or higher. BBM for iOS and Android will be limited to messaging and groups at launch, then updated “later on” with BBM Voice, screen share, and the BBM Channels.
Update: Interesting turn of developments here. T-Mobile UK has now deleted their Tweet claiming BBM for Android and iOS coming June 27th. Rumours are that they jumped the gun on pressing publish and that the app is not available for download on that date. Hopefully T-Mobile and BlackBerry can clear up the confusion…
Update #2: BlackBerry has come forward now and sent us a note stating the news that T-Mobile spread on their Twitter account “is not inaccurate.”
“On May 14th, BlackBerry announced plans to make its ground-breaking mobile social network, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), available to iOS and Android users this summer, subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play. While there have been reports that BBM will be available to iOS and Android on June 27th, this is not accurate. We will communicate an update as soon as we have an availability date to share.”
Update #3: T-Mobile UK has now apologized for the error, noting on Twitter that “Sorry folks, we got over-excited about the #BBM app coming to Android / iOS. No specific availability date yet, stay tuned for details”
So now we wait for something official. At the very least this gauges the excitement for BBM on other platforms.
