BlackBerry's popular cross-platform messaging application – BBM – is set to launch on the Windows Phone platform. A beta version of the messaging app has been spotted on Windows Phone store.
BBM is listed as a free app on the store without any user reviews. The listing on the store says: “BBM for Windows beta. We're getting ready to welcome Windows Phone users to the BBM community. BBM brings you together in the moment with friends and family through instant chats, voice calls, picture sharing, voice notes and more.” According to the listing, BBM will work with Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.
The release for Windows Phone comes after launch on the iOS and Android platforms. However, BBM was launched on the latter platforms almost a half a year later. The iOS and Android apps have already received a few updates that bring some interesting features. Read: BlackBerry announces BBM v2.2 update for Android and iOS
Interestingly, BlackBerry had earlier this said it had no plans for a Windows Phone version of BBM. However, David Proulx, BlackBerry’s Senior Director of BBM Business Development, had then said the decision was “entirely market driven”.
BBM for Windows Phone will benefit BlackBerry as well as Microsoft. While BlackBerry will be able to further expand its BBM and compete with rival messaging apps, Microsoft will have another popular application to its Windows Phone eco-system, which is competing against Google's Android.
You can check BBM for Windows Phone listing here.