BBM could become a mobile payment system, allowing users to send money to each other

BlackBerry might just have a crown jewel in BBM, especially in the aftermath of the WhatsApp-Facebook deal. The value of the messaging app could been enhanced even more if a feature it is said to be working on, comes to fruition. There is talk that the Canadian manufacturer is putting together a mobile payment system that would allow BBM users to zap money to each other.

BBM enterprise unit president John Sims revealed that the company is meeting with partners. The idea is to offer the feature in developing countries where BlackBerry is still a big name in mobile. In Indonesia (where the BlackBerry Z3 will launch first), a BBM Money service is being tested in partnership with Bank Permata.


Sims stated that BlackBerry has seen daily registration rates for BBM rise by 40% since adding support for the Gingerbread build of Android, which is still used in developing countries. Sims says that the messaging app now has 85 million monthly active users. Windows Phone users, and those who end up buying one of the Nokia X phones, are expected to be able to subscribe to BBM sometime this summer.

source: re/code via IntoMobile