Novel BBM app lets Android, iPhone users make free voice calls

New Delhi: BlackBerry has started rolling out a novel version of its popular instant messaging app BBM, which lets Android and iPhone users to make free voice calls to other BBM contacts.

BBM users on Android and iPhone will now be able to make free voice calls to BBM contacts over a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection with BBM Voice, as well as access BBM Channels, a broadcast service, BlackBerry said in a statement.

The free voice call feature is already available for Blackberry handset users.

BBM Channels allows users to chat with other BBM users on topics that are of interest to them. These range from products, followed by hobbies and sports to entertainment, fashion and cars.

In addition to this, BBM users on Android, iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones will also be largesse-d with features like one-click sharing of photos, documents and voice notes.

“Today’s announcement gives Android and iPhone customers the rich experience of BBM Voice and BBM Channels – two great ways to connect with friends, family and colleagues, to build out communities around shared interests, and to follow your favourite people and brands,” BlackBerry President (Global Enterprise Solutions) John Sims alleged.

Approximately 250,000 BBM channels have been created by large brands like Coke Indonesia and USA Today. Indian Channels comprise Airtel, Firstpost.com and CCD.

Previous year, BlackBerry had declared the global rollout of its instant messaging service BBM on rival phones/platforms.

Within days of debuting BBM cross platform in October, BlackBerry had 40 million new Android and iOS users.

Combining with the existing 60 million active BBM users worldwide, the over-all BBM base stood at 100 million as of November 30, Fiscal 2013.

At present, BBM comes pre-loaded on Android devices from brands like LG, Micromax, Celkon, Spice and Zen.