If you’re already a fan of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), we’ve got some exciting news designed to make it easier for you to connect with your entire mobile social network. BlackBerry plans to make BBM, our wildly popular mobile messaging service, available for the first time to iOS® and Android™ users this summer, (subject to approval by Google Play and the Apple App Store, as applicable). This means that, once available, you can welcome your friends and family using these other mobile platforms to connect over BBM and share in the Team BlackBerry love.

As we’ve chronicled on our Inside BlackBerry blog for some time now, BBM set the standard for mobile instant messaging with fast and reliable service and an added layer of engagement with delivered and read statuses. You’ve shared with us your stories about how BBM has kept you connected when it mattered most to you. Upon release of the multi-platform BBM service, you can broaden that real-time connection to friends and colleagues on other supported mobile platforms.

In the first version of multi-platform BBM, iOS and Android users are expected to be able to experience the following BBM features:

• The immediacy of BBM chats
• Multi-person chats
• Voice note sharing
• BlackBerry Groups, where BBM users are able to set up groups of up to 30 people and share calendar, photos, files and more

The team here at BlackBerry has definitely been working hard to bring the much-adored BBM experience to a wider group of mobile users. In a recent press release at BlackBerry Live 2013, Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem, at BlackBerry had this to say:

“For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service. BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community.”

BBM Quick Facts:

• More than 60 million monthly active users
• More than 51 million daily active users who are connecting with friends or colleagues an average of one and a half hours every day.
• BBM users send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to other mobile messaging apps
• Almost half of BBM messages are read within 20 seconds of being received; indicating how truly engaged BBM customers are

Today, BlackBerry also announced BBM Channels, a new social engagement platform within BBM that will allow customers to connect with the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups they are passionate about. BlackBerry plans to add support for BBM Channels as well as voice and video chatting for iOS and Android later this year, subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play. If approved by Apple and Google, the BBM app will be available as a free download in the Apple® App StoreSM and Google Play store. Additional details about system requirements and availability will be announced closer to the launch.

That’s some pretty big news, indeed. Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments below, who will be the first person from your extended network that you introduce to BBM?

Ah, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) — the much-adored service that keeps the BlackBerry community connected. It changed the way BlackBerry customers communicate through instant messaging, shared groups and calendars, not to mention BBM Voice Chat and, on BlackBerry 10, BBM Video. Today, I’m happy to announce that an update has been made to BBM that adds BBM Voice support to BlackBerry OS 5 devices, so that even more of you can enjoy free voice calls over Wi-Fi via BBM.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with BBM Voice check out this quick video of how it works:

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

So, who’s excited? Old pros who’ve already been using BBM Voice for a while, be sure to welcome BlackBerry OS 5 users to the fold, and share your tips below in the comments.

BBM 7.0.1 is available for download in BlackBerry World — please note that it may take up to 24 hours to appear in the BlackBerry World storefront.

We all love our mobile devices — we bring them with us everywhere from the boardroom to the bathroom. We live, eat, and sleep next to our devices. They are our window to the world – a window we pay to keep open every month. According to a Harris Interactive study published on Time’s Moneyland blog that compares mobile plans to grocery shopping, 21 percent of respondents said they spend more on mobile phone bills every month than they do on groceries! I don’t know about that personally, but what I do know is that most of us would love to be able to do as much as possible on our mobile devices while using less data. Let’s look at a few ways we can make this happen with a few tips for using data more efficiently:

• Learn to Love Wi-Fi: When we’re on the go, sometimes you just have to jump online using your data plan. The rest of the time, we might be within range of a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Wi-Fi hotspot credentials for work, home, and a couple of local coffee shops are all saved in my BlackBerry Z10 for connecting when I’m there. I also take advantage of these Wi-Fi hotspots when downloading new apps, music, videos or large documents.

• Know Thy Apps: While we’re talking about apps, a good habit to get into is to know which apps are always running while your device is turned on. Apps that are providing you with real-time notifications can usually be adjusted to update less frequently. Fewer “pings” for new updates equals less data use.

• Beware the Giant Upload: Those high-resolution pictures you took of your baby going down the slide really should go on Facebook, but remember if you’re on a limited data plan, every megabyte (MB) counts. Wi-Fi is your friend; be aware of what you’re uploading over your mobile network. You can save data by uploading photos when within Wi-Fi range.

• Use What’s Free: While it still requires you to have a data plan, using BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to send a message instead of an email or using a messaging app may help you use less data every month. Depending on the size of the messages and the size of your data plan, you could see some serious savings over the course of several hundred BBM messages.

What are some of the ways you use to save money on your BlackBerry smartphone data plan every month? Do you spend more on your mobile phone bill than groceries? Share your thoughts in the comments.

The emoticon recently turned 30, and we’re taking the opportunity to not only smile (:)), but to really appreciate the terrific community we have here. Not so surprisingly, I love emoticons. Whether I’m using BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), SMS, or email to connect with friends, I find that incorporating a smiley face ensures that my messages sound friendly, especially when they’re short.

A few of my favorite apps in BlackBerry App World feature this ubiquitous smiley face. They include Easy Smiley Pack by S4BB (FREE), Text Smiley by AppsForBB.com (FREE), and Mega Emoji Free by MMMOOO (FREE).

Do you have a favorite emoticon? Don’t just tell us, show us! Post your favorite emoticon in the comment section below.

NOTE: Please be aware that it may take up to 24 hours for the app to be available in the BlackBerry App World storefront.

Showing is better than telling, so we made a video of the first official BBM Voice call on Inside BlackBerry. Check it out:

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

BBM 7 gives you the freedom to choose how you connect with your BBM contacts. It is designed so you can seamlessly switch from a BBM message to a BBM Voice call for free over Wi-Fi.

Here are some other great features you’ll love in BBM 7:

• BBM upgrade notifications – BBM will notify you when there are updates to download straight from within the app
• BBID Synchronization – your BBM profile, Groups and Contacts are linked to your BlackBerry ID
• 16 Additional emoticons – even more choice for those times when words just aren’t enough. Can you spot the new ones? *Drool*

For more information on BBM Voice as well as what else BBM 7 has to offer, check out this How-To video. We can’t wait to hear what you think. Be sure to leave us a comment here or tweet to @BlackBerry using #BBMVoice.

With the holiday season just around the corner, be sure to update your BBM application to BBM 7 so that you can stay connected. As mentioned above it may take up to 24 hours for the app to appear in BlackBerry App World.

How will you be keeping in touch with your friends and family over the holidays?

Fewer smartphone users are relying on their mobile devices to make calls. According to a study by O2, the most popular smartphone activities are mobile browsing, social networking, and playing games. Turns out, making or receiving phone calls came in fourth on the list, followed by texting and emails.

Earlier this fall, we asked fans if they prefer BlackBerry Messenger (BBM ) or texting to stay connected to friends and family. Can you guess which service won out? Read our previous “Be Bold and Vote” post to find out. Now, we want to know what you most often use your BlackBerry smartphone for. Take the poll below, and tell us more by sharing your thoughts in the comments below!

by Brent Payne via Flickr creative commons
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/brentdpayne/6427812917/)

With the holidays quickly approaching, I’m spending as much time thinking about ways to avoid long checkout queues as I am about the gifts I need to buy. If I can order something online or from the convenience of my BlackBerry ® device, why would I ever wait in line?

There’s a strategy known as the “Chat and Cut,” where you pretend to know someone in line so that you can sneak in with them. Invariably, chat-and-cutters are a major reason why I love shopping from my BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry ® PlayBook ™ tablet. They can’t cut their way into a mobile checkout queue!

Here are some strategies for avoiding the lines by doing your holiday shopping and planning directly from your BlackBerry device:

1. Download a great shopping app.

If you’re brave enough to set foot in stores during the holidays, a barcode reader is really the way to go. ScanLife Barcode Reader – Auto by ScanBuy is a personal favorite because in addition to acting as a standard QR-code reader, it allows for comparison shopping. Scan the barcode of a product you like, see which retailers have it in stock, compare prices and find available coupons – all within the app. Impatience-meets-savvy shopping. Awesome.

I also enjoy the eBay by Research In Motion® Ltd. app. It has virtually all the functionality of the mobile site, allowing users to search items, buy, bid, pay or publish listings from a BlackBerry smartphone. Now that I can bid on merchandise in real time, my chances of winning have skyrocketed. And with BlackBerry ® Messenger ™ (BBM ™) integration, I can share my winning with my network.

2. Take full advantage of the handy native apps on your device.

I recommend using the MemoPad when brainstorming gifts, the tasks function to list out items you want to buy, and the calendar to set aside time to get everything done. It feels great to check off “completed” beside a task, and I’ll bet you feel the same!

3. Use BBM to your full advantage.

In our fast-paced world, there is no time to play games (well, actually, I love playing games on my phone, but that’s another story). Include your friends or family members in a BBM group, and when you conquer the mall together, save time by sharing instant messages about sales or short line-ups. Since I like to make my holiday wish list apparent, I change my BBM photo routinely to pictures of things I’d like to buy. Call it what you want, but it works.

Lastly, if you’re looking to buy someone on your list a BlackBerry device, remember that this can all be done from the BlackBerry website. Find more ‘shopping tools’ apps in the BlackBerry App World ™ storefront, and let us know your favorites in the comments below.

So you’re using a feature phone as your daily wireless device. It’s familiar, comfortable, it works for you. Sure, you use it to make a call here and there, or to send the odd SMS (text) message. But when do you decide it’s time to make the most of your mobile life by switching to a BlackBerry ® smartphone?

The benefits of a smartphone far exceed that of a feature phone. A smartphone is a mini computer – a portable office that keeps you organized and always connected. BlackBerry smartphones with QWERTY keyboards offer a quicker way to communicate by text message, email and chat via BlackBerry Messenger® (BBM™). Smartphones also have the ability to transfer larger volumes of data than a regular cell phone, ensuring that you are never out of touch. Many smartphones also offer high-resolution touch screen displays to make navigating a smartphone simple.

A smartphone does much more than messaging. You can surf the web, engage in social media and play games on your BlackBerry smartphone. You can even head over to the BlackBerry App World™ storefront to find new BlackBerry apps in order to get the full smartphone experience.

Have you recently transitioned from a feature phone to a smartphone? Share your experience in the comments below.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

The inclusion reflects the extraordinary global popularity of BBM. From its humble origins as a business messaging tool, BBM now has over 56 million users worldwide, with 70% of #TeamBlackBerry using it on a daily basis to communicate with friends, family and colleagues.

The addition of BBM to the Collins English dictionary recognizes its status as one of the world’s most popular mobile social networks. In recent years, the term ‘BBM’ has transcended its technological origins to become a part of the everyday language of millions. It’s an honor that a word used by millions of our customers has now been officially welcomed into the English language.

Do you use BBM in your everyday vocabulary? If so, be sure to tell us your favorite BBM stories in the comments below, and swing by our recent poll to cast your vote for BBM as your top communication tool.

Two campaigns are in full swing. Babies are kissed, hands are shaken, and it’s come down to a face-off. There can be only one winner. Who will emerge victorious, and who will not? It’s not about politics; it’s an official Inside BlackBerry® Blog Poll!

It’s time to vote for which technology you use the most to connect with friends and family: BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) or the BlackBerry® smartphone’s text messaging application? Do you live for the BBM check-marked “R” or are you a text-a-holic? Do you use both equally? Cast your vote and let us know!

If you have any additional thoughts behind your vote, feel free to share them in the comments below!