Consumer BBM Shuts Down, Sends Goodbyes to Users Worldwide

Blackberry Limited through Emtek, the current developer of the BBM messaging service, has announced it will soon shut down the BBM Consumer service. The shut down will affect both its for Android and iOS users. BBM messaging service currently has two major editions of the app service-the free BBM Consumer and the paid BBM Enterprise.

In an announcement titled "Time to Say Goodbye" published on 18 April on the company's blog and also sent out to BBM app users, Emtek lamented its inability to break even, despite spirited efforts, with many of its app users preferring apps from its more powerful competitors. It has set 31 May as the day of shut down. The announcement is below:

Time to Say Goodbye – English Version

Today we’re announcing that we will be closing BBM consumer service on 31 May 2019.

Three years ago, we set out to reinvigorate BBM consumer service, one of the most loved instant messaging applications, as a cross-platform service where users can not only chat and share life experiences, but also consume content and use payment services.

We poured our hearts into making this a reality, and we are proud of what we have built to date.

The technology industry however, is very fluid, and in spite of our substantial efforts, users have moved on to other platforms, while new users proved difficult to sign on.

Though we are sad to say goodbye, the time has come to sunset the BBM consumer service, and for us to move on.

We are grateful for your support and wish to thank everyone, especially our users, partners, and employees, for being part of the BBM consumer service journey.

We hope you will cherish many fond memories of BBM consumer service that helped shape messenger platforms to become what they are today.

For more details, please visit the FAQ page by clicking the link below: https://help.bbm.com/en/support/solutions/folders/19000163838

With this reality, BBM will continue to operate up to 31st May 2019, after which time the BBM application will stop working.

What is BBM

BBM, formerly known by its full name BlackBerry Messenger, is a proprietary mobile instant messenger and videotelephony application included on BlackBerry devices that allows messaging and voice calls between BlackBerry, iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile users. BlackBerry Messenger was launched on August 1, 2005.

BBM was the original "mobile-first" messaging service, and was popular for a while before it started to lose out to rivals. Communication using the BBM app was only possible between BlackBerry devices until late 2013 when BBM was released on iOS and Android systems.

The consumer edition, BBM Consumer, is currently developed by Indonesian company Emtek under license from BlackBerry Limited (formerly known as Research In Motion), whilst the paid enterprise edition, called BBM Enterprise (formerly known as BBM Protected), is developed fully by BlackBerry Limited.

What is BlackBerry's current involvement in BBM Consumer?

BlackBerry owns 100% of BBM but licensed its rights on BBM Consumer (i.e., the Android, iOS and Windows Phone versions of BBM) to CMW. BlackBerry continues to operate the BBOS and BlackBerry 10 versions of BBM, as well as BBM Enterprise (formerly BBM Protected). If you use these other versions of BBM, keep in mind that they are distinct from BBM Consumer and not affected.

Who are Emtek and CMW?

Emtek is a leading digital media content company with an impressive portfolio of television, web, and content production assets. Creative Media Works Pte Ltd (CMW) is Emtek's subsidiary and has tried taking BBM Consumer to the next and higher levels over the past few years.

Since becoming involved with BBM, CMW added great new BBM content and services, including in-app transportation services such as Uber, content such as News, Games, Video, Comics, Polls, and e-commerce offerings such as shopping, travel and vouchers, however, it appears all these could not save the app from crashing out of use.