So Summer is about to end in a few weeks and we're yet to see the cross-platform version of BlackBerry's BlackBerry Messenger or BBM service.
However, it appears that the wait could be over soon as a BlackBerry representative has confirmed that the BBM app for iOS was submitted for Apple's App Store approval two weeks ago.
Alex Kinsella of BlackBerry
posted on Twitter that BBM for iPhone was submitted for review two weeks ago. This implies that the app could arrive anytime on the App Store, provided Apple approves it.
BlackBerry had announced plans to
extend BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to Android and iOS in May, saying that the app would be available before the end of summer.
Just a few days back,
a walkthrough video revealing the features of the BBM Android app had appeared online. The video suggested that the BBM app would sport features similar to the BlackBerry Messenger's BlackBerry OS version, and that it would also include NFC-based sharing through Android Beam.
However, the video was pulled down by the site on the request of the Canadian handset maker.
It was also reported that the BlackBerry Messenger app would be official by the end of this month and that it would be available through respective app stores for both Android and iPhone users.
Prior to that, a
landing page dedicated to BBM surfaced on the official site of the company, claiming that the BBM service had arrived for both, Android and Apple platforms. The dedicated page for the service said, "BBM for Android and iPhone is here." This page was also pulled and was replaced with a launch page that said, "BBM is coming to Android and iPhone" and included an option to get notified when the service launches through an email prompt.
Presently, BlackBerry Messenger or BBM allows BlackBerry users to seamlessly exchange texts, audio, videos and pictures with each other. However, a number of cross-platform mobile messaging apps including WhatsApp, WeChat and Line have taken over as preferred choices since they are available on a variety of platforms. When it comes to the iPhone, BBM would also compete with Apple's own iMessage platform that allows users who own Apple devices to send each other free messages over a data connection.