BlackBerry resumes roll out of BBM to Android and iPhone users

BlackBerry Ltd said yesterday that it had started rolling out its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service to Android and iPhone devices users.

The long-awaited cross-platform offering, delayed after issues came to the fore following the initial launch last month, would now be rolled out in a phased manner.

"To help manage this unprecedented pent-up demand for BBM, we are implementing a simple line-up system to ensure a smooth rollout," Andrew Bocking, who heads BlackBerry's BBM business, said in a blog post on the company's website.

The company last week said that 6 million Android and iPhone customers had pre-registered for the launch.

According to the company those that had already signed up for the service at BBM.com were being allowed to use the platform right away, while others would be signed on as fast as possible.

''This is the news you've been waiting for... we are about to officially resume our rollout of BBM for Android and iPhone customers around the globe!

''In the next few hours, people will start seeing BBM in Google Play, the App Store and in select Samsung App Stores - where it will be free to download, Bocking said in the post.

In September, the company had held back the global rollout of its instant messaging service BBM on rival phones, attributing the delay to issues caused by an unreleased old version of BBM.

The demand for BBM on Android and iPhone continued to be amazing with about 6 million people signing up for information about BBM at BBM.com, he added.

Bocking added, ''As you know, in just seven hours, about one million Android users were using the unreleased version of BBM for Android. What you don't know is that more than one million people have found creative ways to 'side load' BBM on their iPhone. This is incredible.''

BBM, an internet-based instant messenger app available on BlackBerry devices allows instant messaging between BlackBerry users.

''Our team of developers and engineers has been working around the clock to bring you BBM - and make some upgrades while we're at it - and some incredible work has been done,'' he added.

According to BlackBerry, however, those who signed up at BBM website would be able to use the app immediately.

''If you are among the millions that took the time to sign up at BBM.com, you can start using BBM immediately without waiting in line. If you didn't sign up in advance, don't worry - we are focused on moving millions of customers through the line as fast as possible,'' Bocking said.