THE newly released BBM app for iPhone and Android users broke records this week after being downloaded more than 10-million times within 24 hours.
In addition to being an early roll-out on Tuesday for Samsung smartphone users in sub-Saharan Africa, it became the number-one app in the App Store and Google Play for more than 75 countries.
The app allows users to chat with friends, both one-on-one and in larger groups, as well as send pictures and voice notes. Like many other social networks, users can create a profile and provide minute-to-minute updates.
“We are excited to work with Samsung to launch BBM to their customers in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Andrew Bocking, executive vice-president for BBM at BlackBerry.
“Samsung customers will discover what makes BBM so popular — they’ll enjoy a fast, reliable and engaging mobile messaging experience.”
BBM shot up the App Store charts in the US, Indonesia, Canada and many Middle Eastern countries, giving it one of the highest first-day download figures in history.
What separates BBM from other services is its “unique PIN” feature, which gives users a way to share their profile and communicate with others without giving away personal information such as phone numbers or email addresses.
The service gained its popularity on BlackBerry devices, prompting the company to spread it across multiple platforms.
“This has been an incredible launch for BBM across Android and iPhone devices,” Mr Bocking said.
“The mobile messaging market is full of opportunity for BBM. We intend to be the leading private social network for everyone who needs the immediate communication and collaboration of instant messaging combined with the privacy, control and reliability delivered through BBM.”
For sub-Saharan Africa users, the BBM app will serve as one arm of Samsung’s mobile messaging hub in conjunction with WhatsApp, WeChat and ChatOn.
The service will be available on Android and iPhone platforms by 8pm on Thursday.