BBM for Android, iOS – why the hold up?
BlackBerry’s misery was compounded over the weekend after it was forced to suspend the rollout of its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to iPhone and Android platforms after an unreleased version was posted online which “caused issues”.
BlackBerry was expected to launch BBM for Android on 21 September, but the group said it is pausing the global roll-out of BBM for Android and iPhone to make sure the app “lives up to expectations”.
The group had begun to launch BBM for iPhone in countries like New Zealand, Austalia, Malaysia, India and the UAE on 22 September, but the Android version did not launch as expected.
BlackBerry said in a blog post over the weekend:
“Prior to launching BBM for Android, an unreleased version of the BBM for Android app was posted online. The interest and enthusiasm we have seen already – more than 1.1 million active users in the first 8 hours without even launching the official Android app – is incredible. Consequently, this unreleased version caused issues, which we have attempted to address throughout the day.
“Our teams continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it’s ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM. We are pausing the global roll-out of BBM for Android and iPhone. Customers who have already downloaded BBM for iPhone will be able to continue to use BBM. The unreleased Android app will be disabled, and customers who downloaded it should visit www.BBM.com to register for updates on official BBM for Android availability.”
BlackBerry said that as soon as it is able, it would begin a “staggered country roll-out of BBM for Android and continue the roll-out of BBM for iPhone”.
The group pointed out that the issues have not impacted BBM service for BlackBerry.
Financial strife
Blackberry warned on Friday (20 September) that it expects to report a big second-quarter operating loss later on this week, as much as as much as $995 million, adding that it plans to cut more than a third of its workforce – 4,500 jobs.
The group’s CEO Thorsten Heins also said that the company would move away from the consumer market and concentrate on serving businesses and governments.
In August, the Canadian based firm said it was eyeing the possibility of a sale.
Yet, despite its current woes, Blackberry still has a substantial subscriber base – 72 million users globally at the end of June, though that figure is down from 76 million three months earlier.
Shares in the group plummeted 17.06% on Friday on the Nasdaq, to $8.73.
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