14 DAY TRIAL // BlackBerry announced last week that a new feature was made available for its BBM application, but only on Android platform: the ability to chat with non-BBM contacts.
The update released in Google Play Store last week brought additional new features and improvements such as enhanced Voice Chat experience, full-screen viewing of BBM Group Pictures and the option to block receiving messages from a multi-person chat.
This week BlackBerry announces that new updates are available for BBM for BlackBerry and iOS applications. Both updates contain the same changes, so BlackBerry and iOS users will benefit from the same improvements after updating.
As expected, the major change included in the update is the ability to chat with non-BBM contacts. Even though BBM contacts require an invite, the new update will show “contacts” in your phone's contacts app that are already using BBM.
You will then be able to start chatting with these contacts immediately without having to send any invitations. This will allow users to discover other people they know they are already using BBM.
“When you upgrade to the new BBM, you’ll find you have access to some new contact categories. There are now contacts and BBM contacts,” said Jesse Ariss, BBM Marketing, BlackBerry.
Lots of other new features and improvements have been added
Aside from that, the update also adds bundled timed pictures, timed messages and retracted messages into a new BBM Subscription.
With the latest version of BBM, users will be able to send broadcast messages to specific contact categories. Users will also be able to manage their stickers and save their chats to iCloud (for iOS version).
BBM should now offer improved Voice Chat experience. Also, just like Android users, those who upgrade will have the option to block receiving messages from a multi-person chat.
You can now download BBM for iOS for free via App Store. The application should be fully compatible with all devices powered by iOS and up. The latest version of BBM for BlackBerry is also available for download through BlackBerry App World.