Much like iPhone's iMessages today, it was a proprietary system that was the original "mobile-first" messaging service, and enjoyed a period of massive popularity – though it was only really useful if the group of friends you wanted to message often also had BlackBerry devices.
When BlackBerry Messenger was first introduced in August 2005, BlackBerry users could add each other to buddy lists via QR code thanks to a unique BlackBerry Pin, the number assigned to each unique BlackBerry device at the time it was manufactured. It will also include end-to-end encryption, a feature that's a must for keeping your conversations private. This app-based version, called BBM Enterprise, will still include group chats, voice and video calls, message editing, and the ability to retract messages. It will also come to iOS users eventually, but it won't operate in the same way as its predecessor did. It's available for Android users today, free for one year, and then it will cost $2.49 for every six months of service. That's how BBM will still live on, as BlackBerry revealed its plans to open up a special paid version of the app via the Google Play Store. BBM is shutting down as of today, which means if you're still relying on it to text all your friends (who haven't moved on to iPhones or Android devices), you might want to download WhatsApp or a similar messaging service soon, unless you want to upgrade to the enterprise edition.
Following in the footsteps of the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) shutdown in December 2017, the consumer version of BlackBerry's smartphone messaging service is going the way of the dinosaur.
It's the end of an era for BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) users.
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