BBM for Android Software Update Beta Brings Voice Chat and Channels
A new BBM for Android update beta brings new additions to the app including voice chat and channels.
This is a private beta of the app that is only available to developers at this time.
Channels is basically BlackBerry's version of a social network. It is described by the company as something similar to Tumblr. Voice chat allows users to speak to one another using video in the same way that Skype does. Users will be able to call each other for free or by using Wi-Fi networks. This is a feature Google+ users have been waiting for a long time.
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The update is currently available for download through BlackBerry Beta Zone. Download it here. There is no word yet on when it will be available for the general public or if it will roll out to the iOS version.
The BBM for Android and iOS app rolled out in the fall of 2013 and has been downloaded on over 5 million devices, according to BlackBerry. The company announced the news on its Twitter account shortly after reaching the milestone.
"Next 5 million in line- your turn! Open up BBM and click 'I got the email' to get started on #BBM right away!" Tweeted BlackBerry. Blackberry originally announced the software's official release on a blog post in Oct.
"The demand for BBM on Android and BBM on iPhone continues to be amazing," wrote the company. "About six million people signed up for information about BBM at BBM.com. 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."
