Finally BBM makes its way to Android and iOS powered devices

About a month after the first attempt failed, BlackBerry is planning on trying once again to get BBM for iOS and BBM for Android available for users of those two platforms. On Monday, BlackBerry crowed about the 1.1 million Android users that installed an unreleased version of  the app back in September. It was that unofficial version, along with a number of bogus BBM apps put up in the Google Play Store, that made BlackBerry's task too difficult to complete at the time. Meanwhile, more than 1 million Apple iPhone users have side-loaded BBM on their phone.

According to the beleaguered Canadian manufacturer, the best way to download BBM on your iOS or Android phone is to visit BBM.com from your iPhone or Android browser. Install the app, enter your email address and BlackBerry will send you a message when you are at the "front of the line" and can use BBM. You can follow the line at @BBM on Twitter If you already signed up with BBM.com, you can start using BBM immediately.

BlackBerry says its developers have been working around the clock and made some upgrades to BBM during the past month. This is a great idea from BlackBerry because instead of going to your phone's app store and putting up with a number of bogus BBM apps, you are going straight to BlackBerry to install it.

Ok, you've gone ahead and downloaded BBM on your phone. Now what? Thanks to a series of videos released today by BlackBerry, you will see step-by-step instructions on how to set-up and create a group, know when a message you've sent has been read, how to set up a multi-person chat, how to set up a contacts list using PINs and how to share pictures, and more.

Delayed by about a month,BBM for iOS and BBM for Android both have been listed in their respective app stores. BlackBerry also has come up with another way to receive the app which requires you to head over to BBM.com using the browser on your phone, leaving your email address, and "waiting in line" to start using the messaging app. Those who previously registered with BBM.com should be able to use it immediately.

And if you need help running BBM on your iOS or Android phone, you can check out the videos below. One of them just might have the answer that you're looking for.

How to add a contact by PIN
How to share Pictures & more
How to check other's updates
How to do multiperson chats
Know when your messages have been read & delivered
How to create & manage groups

Source: Phone Arena