BBM for Android and iOS had a bumpy road to release, but it seems that the product has finally arrived. The software may be missing some of the features that other messaging applications, including BBM for Blackberry, offer, but the application is coming along. A new update from BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) will let users use BBM for iOS on Wi-Fi only devices.
This means that iPads without a mobile data connection will be able to make use of BBM for iOS. The new feature will make the messaging application accessible to a wider range of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) product users and should manage to add new BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) fans across a range of devices. The update is due to arrive in the next 24 hours.
BBM for iOS and Android
BBM for Android and iOS was mostly a smartphone-focused application. There is no specific version for the iPad and most iPads, which are sold without a data connection, have not been able to make any use of the service. The update will allow the service to be used on iPads and on the iPod Touch.
BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) may need BBM for iOS and Android in order to survive as the company’s hardware business continues to crumble.
BBM and BlackBerry’s future
If BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) were to disappear tomorrow, the company’s new users on Android and iOS might be disappointed, but it wouldn’t be a substantially painful experience. The entire BlackBerry services business, which is dominated by enterprise users, seems to be the only viable part of the company, so it should survive demise.
BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) smartphones are not doing all that well. The company is losing money by the truckload, and it failed to sell itself in a recent auction. The firm’s board has decided not to split the company up, and it has taken on $1 billion in financing to help it survive the coming year. BBM for Android and iOS may form a path out of its issues.
Many analysts have suggested that Blackberry Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) should become a software company. If the firm’s BBM for Android and iOS becomes popular the company could begin making cash off of the service. There are other software parts of the business, mostly dealing with enterprise, that the company could offer to other mobile platforms.
