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Facebook PageBBM Coming to Android and iOS This Summer
This is a rather large move on behalf of BlackBerry – announcing that its once exclusive BBM Messaging platform will soon come to Android and iOS devices. Yes, this means that BlackBerry users will soon be able to natively chat with Android and iOS users (as of yet, there’s no confirmation of Windows Phone support). “The time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service,” Andrew Bocking, executive vice president of Software Product Management and Ecosystem at BlackBerry said in a press release. “BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community.” BBM customers send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, and that number will only grow with iOS and Android users in the fold.
With the new BlackBerry Z10 already available and the QWERTY-equipped Q10 coming soon, we look towards a BB10 software update. Developers have their hands on version 10.1 of BlackBerry OS and improvements are not minor. HDR photography joins the fray, along with PIN-to-PIN messaging via the BlackBerry hub, coupon redemption in the BlackBerry World store, and a number of other cosmetic changes. No word on when the update will be released, but developers are looking forward to it hitting devices soon.
In case you missed the announcement, a new promotional deal has Delta and BlackBerry offering an incentive to those adopting the BlackBerry 10 platform. Those with a new BB device will get free Gogo-powered internet access for all domestic Delta flights; and though perhaps not the incentive required to make a giant platform switch, it’s a definite incentive to those BB users who fly Delta frequently.
It’s coming soon…the BlackBerry Q10; and Rogers in Canada is proud to be offering it up as one of their fastest smartphones. Featuring not only BlackBerry 10 and a QWERTY keyboard, the Q10 supports blazing speeds of 2600MHz LTE–which means no matter the color (the phone will be available in Black and White), Blackberry fans will be getting their favorite phone without having to sacrifice speed. The Q10 will be on the shelves in the coming weeks at Rogers locations in Canada, starting at $199.99 on select plans.
The launch of BlackBerry’s latest handsets and operating system seems to be moving in the right direction for the Canadian company. Its recent announcement shows that they have sold 1 million Z10 units since launch, making the launch a success, and the company is once again profitable. BlackBerry says it has shipped a total of six million smartphones during its Q4 of 2013, which includes the 1 million figure for the new flagship Z10–a number that was above their conservative sales estimates for the new device.
If you thought Blackberry was just up to creating new operating systems and devices, think again. The Canadian company’s expertise in enterprise has allowed them to work on a multi-platform mobile management solution that is soon to be released. Secure Work Space for iOS and Android is currently in beta and is designed to separate and secure work information from personal data on devices running iOS and Android. The service will be managed through Blackberry Enterprise Service 10 which will soon be updated to extend features that were once proprietary, over to iOS and Android. Blackberry has always had the most secure mobile platform, making it an ideal choice for government and high level corporations– and now that security comes to iOS and Android.
The Blackberry Z10 is set to start pre-sales for AT&T customers on today. The official launch date on AT&T has been announced as March 22nd, and the device will be available or $199 on contract. The presale requires a two-year agreement, while the official March 22nd date makes the device available to all customers–including those receiving a corporate discount. The BlackBerry Z10 will be the first BlackBerry smartphone to run on AT&T’s 4G LTE network, covering 288 million people. We’ll have our full review as soon as our unit arrives…so stay tuned.
BlackBerry 10 is nice. The 
RIM….sorry…BlackBerry is busy releasing BlackBerry 10–and part of the announcements is the official launch of the BlackBerry World storefront (formerly called the App World). The platform will launch with 70,000 apps–which is claimed to be more than any other app store has launched with. BlackBerry is also stressing digital media with this announcement, as the new portal also comes with an extensive catalog of songs, movies, TV shows, with movies becoming available the same day as their DVD release, and television shows showing up a day after airing. Check the full release after the jump.
It is official – BlackBerry 10 has arrived and after months of rumors, the first full-touch device is indeed the BlackBerry Z10. Featuring a 4.2-inch 1280×768 resolution display, dual-core processor, 2 gigs of RAM as well as LTE, it will launch on all 4 major U.S. carriers this March, with Verizon being the first to officially announce availability–it will retail for $199.99 on two-year agreements, and a white version will be exclusive to Verizon when it launches. Our Canadian readers will be happy to know that while we may have to wait a couple of more months for the Z10′s release, they won’t–Canada can expect it on all carriers in the next week. Among the announcements at Blackberry’s media event is the dropping of the name Research In Motion – the company will now only be known as BlackBerry. We’ll have more from today’s Blackberry event…so stay tuned.; but for now, click past the jump for Z10 specs.
