BBM free version adds message retraction and timed messages

BBM free version adds message retraction and timed messages

BBM   11:21:00

BlackBerry on its recent new release of its Messenger client across Android, iOS, and BlackBerry 10 has added some useful new features.

The major new added feature here is message retraction. Users can now retract messages after sending them, or even edit them. This can be useful if you mistakenly sent something and don't wish the other person to see it. This works in one on one chats as well as group chats.

The recent update also supports timed messages now, where the messages disappear after a certain time once the recipient has seen them. Before both features were only available via a paid add-on.

Other additions made free include ability to mute group chats, scrolling through pictures sent over chats and groups, ability to save images captured within the app, larger videos on iOS, redesigned UI on iOS, check multiple messages to delete, forward, or retract, forwarding messages from one chat to another, and Android 6.0 support.

Latest BBM update brings better retraction, feed likes, in-app search and more

Latest BBM update brings better retraction, feed likes, in-app search and more

BBM   16:59:00

Blackberry recently released an update for its messenger platform - BBM. This new update which has several new and improved features has proven to favour the Android and iOS platform users and not BB10 users. The reason being that several of the updates seem to focus on Android and iOS BBM users.

With this new updates we might conclude that the Company is gradually dropping its own OS and focusing on Android since it has an Android device (PRIV) which has widely been accepted and its planning to release another Android device soon (VIENNA).

Some of the new features are stated below 

In-App Search and Likes for iOS and Android users

Do you need to find information about a meeting, or call to mind a past conversation? Now you can, with BBM’s new search function.

Results are categorized by chats, contacts, groups, or channels, making it even easier to find what you’re looking for.

To keep augmenting BBM Feeds’ social media capabilities, Android and iOS Users now have the ability to “like” personal feeds posts, and a new notifications section lets them know when contacts have liked a post of theirs.


Better Retraction & Editing

Last year, the company debuted message retraction, and while there were a lot of positive feedback, some users wished control over their messages was a little more extensive. That’s why, with the latest release of BBM, users can now retract both pictures and entire chats in addition to individual messages.

Retract and Edit are now available within multi-person chats with up to 200 people. iOS and Android users can also retract and edit messages in formal Group Chats, as well. In all cases, recipients will just see a “message retracted” note. For retract and edit, users must have a Privacy & Control subscription for BBM.

Users can also now locally delete messages from their chats, though this won’t delete those messages for other senders and recipients. This is a free feature for Android and iOS users today. Other added features include

Android Broadcasts: Android BBM users can now send broadcast messages to different categories of their contacts (i.e. friends, co-workers, family, etc.), an already-existing feature on BB10 and iOS.

iOS 3D Touch: iOS BBM users can use 3D Touch to quickly send messages, update their status, display a picture, search BBM, and more.

Receive and send Money with PayPal through your BBM

Receive and send Money with PayPal through your BBM

BBM   16:38:00

There is an easy way of sending and receiving money from friends and families - thanks to the recent Blackberry BBM update. Blackberry has partnered with PayPal to ease sending money to loved ones.
According to Blackberry Blog

We’re offering a solution to those of you who are splitting the dinner bill, pitching in for a gift, or paying back a friend for that time you forgot your wallet .

With BBM’s integration with PayPal, sending money is now made simple. Just connect your PayPal account to your BBM account & start sending money. It’s that easy. If you don’t see the option immediately, stay tuned as the integration becomes available in additional countries soon

BBM and PayPal have teamed up to make sending and receiving money through your BBM Chats even easier. Just connect your PayPal account to your BBM. Once your BBM contacts do the same, you can start sending and receiving money – it’s that simple.

Starting today, the external beta will be available for BlackBerry, iOS and Android BBM users in Canada, and will roll out to other regions around the globe in the coming weeks.

Very great update from Blackberry, what do you think? Leave us a comment

Control what you share, with confidence with the new 'private chat' feature in the new BBM update

Control what you share, with confidence with the new 'private chat' feature in the new BBM update

BBM   10:58:00

A new BBM update was launched yesterday for Blackberry 10, IOS and Android users. A number of new features were added to the new update - 

-  BBM for android with Google material design.
-  A new way to organize your ever-growing sticker collection

-  A newly implemented “quote message” feature so you can reference previous messages in your chat.

-  Updated the way font sizes are rendered on iOS. iPhone users are going to love that their BBM font size is based on the size selected in system settings.
But the most prominent feature added to this new update is the ''private chat'', this new feature was introduced to ensure that sensitive messages are kept discreet.

This private chat feature is very similar to the 'new incognito window' in your Chrome or the 'new private window' in your Mozilla browsers, as it ensures discreet chat. 

The private chat feature has been added in the new Privacy and Control Subscription ($0.99 monthly) which in-turn replaces the existing Timed and Retracted Messages Subscription. This new bundle offers the following -  

i.  Private Chat
ii. Timed messages and pictures
iii. Retract messages and pictures
iv. Edit Message (Made a mistake? Now you can retract it, change it, and send your message again.)

Furhtermore, the Private chat feature offers no names, no profile pictures, and the chat ends automatically after a short period of time. Now screenshot of chats are useless, because no one really knows who said what in the chat! This is evident in the photo below

I know a lot of celebrity would find this new update amazing as it ensures their privacy and protects them from leaked chat messages from their partners.

What do you think of this new feature? leave a comment please

Source: BBM blog

Windows BBM Update: BBM Channels Now Available on Windows Phone

Windows BBM Update: BBM Channels Now Available on Windows Phone

Windows   10:51:00

BBM just keeps getting better by the day with its updates. I doubt any messaging app can stand side by side with this giant messaging app.

Just few weeks after debuting it in the beta version of the application, BlackBerry has introduced support for Channels in the latest update to its main BBM for Windows Phone application. The new feature has already been added to the iOS and Android versions of the messaging app.

“Beginning today, Windows smartphone users have a new place to join conversations happening right now between brands, people and communities,” the Canadian company stated in a blog post. “In real-time you can discover and connect with other #TeamBlackBerry members on subjects that interest you.”

You can download the latest version of the app (2.1.0.16) from the Windows Phone Store. Also watch update video below...

With the New BBM Update, chat with your phone contacts directly without invite

With the New BBM Update, chat with your phone contacts directly without invite

BBM   10:43:00

BBM contact list has been recently upgraded. Users can download the latest version of BBM today and start to take control of your social circles. Download the latest version here

When a user upgrades to the new BBM, the user will find you have access to some new contact categories. There are now contacts and BBM contacts on your new BBM upgrade.

The new contacts are people in your device’s contacts app who are already using BBM. Users can begin chatting with these contacts immediately, no BBM invite required! This is a great means to discover other people you know who are already using BBM.

BBM Contacts requires an invite. These are contacts that users have added to BBM. Only BBM contacts can see your BBM display picture and BBM status updates, and only BBM Contacts can call you using BBM Voice.

Watch the short video below to see how it works.

Custom PINs, Android Wear, No ADS and more on new BBM upgrade

Custom PINs, Android Wear, No ADS and more on new BBM upgrade

Social networks   11:07:00

The most recent upgrade to BBM was announced yesterday at MWC and will begin to roll out for BlackBerry 10 and Android devices today and iOS soon, this was made known on the Blackberry official blogNew features were also added according to the report. Among the new features are Custom pins and No ads option.

All BBM users, both android, windows and IOS users already have a PIN. These unique PINs are directly linked to your personal BlackBerry ID, and makes it easier for you to add new contacts. Easily share your PIN to add people to your BBM contacts list while keeping private information such as your phone number or email address.

If you are a good observer, you'll notice all PINs follow a specific alphanumeric format, and look something like “2564C1AD”. People use BBM PINs all over the place, on email signatures, flyers, business cards and in some cities, taxis !

CUSTOM PINS

With this unique introduction to BBM, you can make a PIN that’s easy for you and your friends & families to remember and/or reel-out something special about you. Custom PINs have to follow certain rules though according to Blackberry. It must be 6-8 characters long, and can include letters and numbers only. Special characters cannot be used and PINs are not case sensitive. A Custom PIN subscription costs $1.99 USD per month.

BBM users with any active subscription automatically gets another little bonus, a badge on their avatar to show off their premium status. An example of a screenshot is given below...

NO ADDS

You now have the option to remove advertisements  from BBM for only $0.99 USD per month with the new No Ads subscription. This special subscription removes all adverts from your feed, and additionally, no more sponsored invites from our partners.

PICTURES IN GROUP

BBM Groups even got better. Last update, Blackberry added the ability to use stickers in Group Chats. The recent update due to popular request is Photos in Group Chats. Yes, you can now share photos in group chats. These pictures are also saved to the Pictures section of your group chat, letting you to still “like” and comment on them.

ANDROID GEAR OPTION

Another upgrade for Android users, Android Gear or Wear Support is now added to this release. Effortlessly receive BBM alerts on your wrist when new BBM messages come in, read and reply to them with a few simple swipes. With this upgrade discreet messaging on-the-go even got easier.

IOS SECURITY UPGRADE

BBM took advantage of iOS specific features like TouchID, BBM will be allowing iOS users to password protect their BBM chats from this upgrade. Lock your private BBM messages with your fingerprint or a 4 digit passcode. You can even set how long you would like BBM to remain unlocked before a password is required again. Amazing right!