BlackBerry is readying the next update for its BBM messaging app to include new features such as photo sharing in multi-person chat group, increased size limit for file sharing and bigger emoticons.
The BBM portfolio of features is adding up with stickers in the new BBM Shop, support for Android 2.3 Gingerbread handsets and support for Windows Phone and Nokia X, which arrive this summer. BlackBerry also announced future plans for its growing cross-platform messaging app to include photo sharing in multi-person chat group, file sharing size increased to more than two times and bigger emoticons for fun interactions between friends and groups.
The introduction of photo sharing in multi-person chat groups comes as an addition to the current sharing options, including voice notes, location and files from Dropbox account, said Jeff Gadway, head of product and brand marketing for BBM, in a BlackBerry Blog, Friday.
"The next release of BBM will support photo sharing in multi person chats. This comes as an addition to existing sharing options that exist in multi person chats - sending voice notes, sharing your location powered by Glympse, and sending files from your Dropbox account," Godway wrote. "We also understand that customers want to be able to send larger files through BBM. While our file size limit on shared files has historically been set at 6 MB, we're increasing this to 16 MB in the next release of BBM."
The extension of file size will be helpful for users sharing videos and audio clips. The company explains that a user can record up to 16 seconds of 1080p resolution videos and share with friends in one go. BlackBerry also noted that the emoticons will appear to be slightly larger in size for fun-filled chats.
After expanding the messaging platform to Android and iOS, the BBM app has been downloaded more than 50 million times and ranks among the most popular free social networking apps in the Apple App Store. Further expansion to Windows Phone and Nokia X platform will bring more users.
