Update (Oct. 23): BlackBerry said late Tuesday that the BBM app had reached over 10 million downloads in the first day. BBM was still ranked the number one free app on the iPhone App Store and the Google Play store on Wednesday morning.
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TORONTO – After a delayed release, BlackBerry’s BBM messenger app was released Monday to a warm reception. The company reported five million users added their email to a waiting list for the service.
“Next 5 million in line – your turn,” tweeted the official BBM Twitter account late Monday evening.
The app, which became available to iPhone and Android users Monday, allows users to sign up for the service on a first-come-first-serve basis.
When users open the app they are directed to a page which reads, “Due to the incredible demand there is a line-up to start using BBM.” The app then directs users to input their email to secure their spot “in line” and wait for an email with a pin code.
Users who signed up for the popular messaging app on BBM.com were able to start using the service right away.
It’s unclear how long users will have to wait to use BBM – BlackBerry’s blog instructs users to follow the BBM Twitter account for updates on how quickly the line is moving.
BlackBerry also noted that six million users signed up for information about the launch on BBM.com.
The popular instant messaging service became popular with BlackBerry users because it allows texting in real-time on a secure server, without having to use an SMS text package from a service provider. The service’s secure server also made it a popular choice for BlackBerry enterprise customers.
In September, an unreleased version of the BBM software for Android was posted online, causing technical conflicts with the official version the company had prepared for release, BlackBerry said at that time.
BlackBerry decided to yank the BBM app while its programmers worked to solve the problem.
BlackBerry has said it wants to turn BBM into a revenue generator for the company through advertising partnerships.
Demand for the app is in stark contrast to other news about the Waterloo, Ont.-based company, whose future remains unclear as a takeover bid from Fairfax Financial looms.
– With files from The Canadian Press
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