Blackberry has announced BBM for Android Gingerbread phones, more specifically – devices running Android 2.3.3+.
The announcement follows the official release of BBM for Android and iOS platforms and with the latest move BlackBerry is targeting low low-end Android devices running the ‘ancient’ version of the mobile OS. BBM for Android Gingerbread is currently in external beta testing phase and will be launched publicly next month.
Jeff Gadway, Head of product and brand marketing of BBM, said in a statement:
“We’re now pleased to announce that BBM will soon also be available on Android Devices running Gingerbread (v2.3.3+). We couldn’t be more excited, too! Supporting Gingerbread will allow millions more Android users to download the popular BBM instant messaging app.”
With this release, Blackberry is planning to tap into the Gingerbread market (versions 2.3.3 through to 2.3.7), which, according to the latest distribution numbers of Google’s Android, represents around 21% of the total Android platform.
Blackberry’s BBM added more than 20 million active users within the first week of launch on Google Play store and Apple App Store. This version for Gingerbread is expected to add at least a couple of million more users to the tally.
Blackberry earlier promised that it will introduce two missing features – BBM Voice and BBM Channels on Android and iOS platforms in early February that could contribute to success on the instant messaging market. But, it remains to be seen if BBM for Android Gingerbread will have these features.
Blackberry has not yet confirmed the date on which this version will be rolling out.
