Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
No, thank you Accept
X
Apple WWDC: What We ExpectBest Mattress DealsAssessing Viral Sleep HacksNetflix Password SharingMeal Subscription vs. TakeoutBest Solar CompaniesVerizon 5G Home InternetBest Credit Cards
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

BBM app for Android can be downloaded, but doesn't work

BBM app for Android and iPhone has leaked ahead of the as-yet-unnamed release date, but you can't use it.

richard-trenholm-square.jpg
richard-trenholm-square.jpg
Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
See full bio
Richard Trenholm
Advertiser Disclosure
Advertiser Disclosure
This advertising widget is powered by Navi and contains advertisements that Navi may be paid for in different ways. You will not be charged for engaging with this advertisement. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, this advertising widget does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. We make reasonable efforts to ensure that information in the featured advertisements is up to date, each advertiser featured in this widget is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its offer details. It is possible that your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms in this advertising widget and the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser which will be presented to you prior to making a purchase. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.

BBM for Android and iPhone is out -- but it doesn't work. The BlackBerry Messenger app for your Android phone has leaked ahead of the as-yet-unnamed release date, but you can't use it.

Thanks to the BlackBerry addicts at CrackBerry, you can download what appears to be the official BBM app and install it on your Android phone before it reaches either Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Sadly though the app is locked to the select few in the beta programme, and unless you're on a whitelist of approved users the app just won't work.

The new BBM app lets you send and receive instant text messages to and from other BBMers, even if you no longer own a BlackBerry. BlackBerry wants to remind former BB fans who have since switched to the iPhone and more affordable Android phones, replacing BBM with chat apps like WhatsApp or Samsung ChatOn that send and receive messages to anyone regardless of what phone they have.

A note of caution: be careful before installing any app claiming to be BBM. Ne'er-do-wells have attacked impatient BBMers with fake BBM apps packed with ads, spam or worse.

The new app will have instant messaging and group chat from the start, with voice calls to follow later. 

Will you come back to BBM or have you switched to another service? What's the best app for chatting? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or chat away on our Facebook page.