BBM Voice and Channels coming soon to iOS and Android?

BBM has been made available to iOS and Android and as we have pointed out, some of the other features of the messaging app are going to be coming to both plarforms. Perhaps the most eagerly awaited feature is BBM Video, which allows users to conduct video chats, but that update probably won't take place until later this year.

Closer on the horizon is the update that will bring BBM Voice and BBM Channels to both the iOS and Android apps. BBM Voice will allow you to make a call anywhere in the world to someone with a data plan or using Wi-Fi. Callers can even multi-task while on the line.

BlackBerry itself is more concerned with BBM Channels, which consists of discussion groups, both individual and corporate. BlackBerry plans on monetizing this feature by charging corporations interested in making their own channels. Despite earlier talk of releasing a version of BBM for Windows Phone, that seems to be off the table for now. BlackBerry does not feel that Windows Phone has enough users at this time to make it feasible to release a version of BBM for the platform.

Krishnadeep Baruah, Senior Director, Channel Marketing Asia Pacific at BlackBerry, repeated the company line about the secure communications offered with BBM when he stated, "There is a continuing focus on security and privacy, and yet opening it up for a wider user base." While a beta version of BBM for Android tested out both Voice and Channels earlier this year, BlackBerry has yet to provide a date when we can expect the update to be pushed out.

Thanks, Anonymous Tipster!

source: Gizbot