TORONTO – BlackBerry is pulling the plug on their music subscription service BBM Music on June 2.
BBM Music, released in 2011, costs $4.99 per month. It allows users to download up to 50 songs per month – but by inviting their BBM contacts to the service, the user would also gain access to the invitee’s 50 songs.
In a statement to Global News, BlackBerry said that the service was being discontinued after a “strategic business review.”
“It was determined that BlackBerry will no longer develop or provide support for BBM Music,” read the statement.
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“We have re-designed, re-engineered and re-invented BlackBerry to create a new unique mobile computing platform that enables third-parties to bring very rich music and multimedia apps and services to customers.”
Along with the release of the BlackBerry 10 operating system, the smartphone-maker also re-branded its app store BlackBerry World, boasting that it had “one of the most robust music and video catalogues in mobile today.”
BlackBerry World’s music selection, available in 18 countries including Canada, includes most recent releases from top artists. Prices are comparable to Apple’s iTunes store.
Though the BBM Music service is not available on BlackBerry 10 devices, the end of the service will likely make music streaming difficult for BlackBerry users — popular streaming services Rdio and Spotify have yet to announce apps for the platform.
A lack of app selection has been a common complaint among reviews of the BlackBerry 10.
A BlackBerry spokesperson confirmed that customers who are currently subscribed to BBM Music will be offered free access to the Rdio music service for 30 days – however without a BlackBerry app, users must access the service by visiting Rdio’s website on their BlackBerry’s web browser.
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