RIM gives BlackBerry Messenger a new social life

BlackBerry-maker RIM announces some changes to its peer-to-peer BlackBerry Messenger service that will allow third-party app makers to let BlackBerry users communicate and share data in apps.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations

Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).

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Jessica Dolcourt

Sept. 27, 2010 1:25 p.m. PT

2 min read

For years, BlackBerry Messenger has been one of those native apps that has flown a little bit under the radar. RIM's announcement today at its third-annual BlackBerry Developer conference shines a brighter light on the peer-to-peer communications platform, and grants it more social skills.

The new BlackBerry Messenger platform will now allow applications like those in the Blackberry App World to tie into the chat client to take advantage of its ability to push content from one BlackBerry user to another in as little as a single click. For example, you'll be able to select an option while playing a multiplayer game to invite other BlackBerry Messenger contacts to play along.

Application developers will get access to a suite of APIs and tools that will let them create the Messenger-compatible extensions necessary for the expanded content-sharing abilities. However, RIM didn't share a timeline with us as to when the BlackBerry Messenger Social SDK will arrive for developers in beta form. All we know right now is that it's coming "soon."

If RIM has a few surprises up its sleeve today, the new Blackberry Messenger platform isn't one of them. RIM had all but spelled out the specs in a blog post outlining some of RIM's anticipated announcements for this developer conference.

There are over 28 million active BlackBerry Messenger users, RIM said in a press briefing, and the rate of new user adoption is growing at 1.5 million new users per month. Opening up BlackBerry Messenger to new developers will give the signature service a new lease on life. But will it be enough to give RIM greater credibility with new users in an era of Android and iPhone ascendancy? It sure can't hurt.

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