RIP BBM: BlackBerry Messenger Shuts Down

BlackBerry Messenger is no more. The long-lived and once-popular messaging service just couldn’t compete in a word filled with Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, and all of the other messaging apps consumers can choose to use instead. RIP BBM.

BlackBerry Messenger Is No More

Emtek, which acquired the licensing rights to BlackBerry Messenger, has shut BBM down for good. The company made the decision in April 2019, and finally shut BBM down for good on May 31, 2019. This leaves the last remaining users seeking alternatives.

On the BBM Blog, the company opined that “in spite of our substantial efforts, users have moved on to other platforms, while new users proved difficult to sign on.” Therefore, “the time has come to sunset the BBM consumer service, and for us to move on.”

PING !!!

Today is the last day to use BBM ??

Thank you for all the support and memories that you have spent together with BBM ?

As an alternative, you can use BBM Enterprise. Check the following link for more details https://t.co/uKmBGP3CQI pic.twitter.com/BnwaoGYehc

— BBM (@BBM) May 31, 2019

While many modern smartphone users will wonder what the fuss is about, BBM launched in 2005 at a time when most people were still using SMS. And BlackBerry Messenger introduced many of the features we now take for granted when using messaging apps.

What has specifically shut down is BBM Consumer. However, BBM Enterprise (BBMe) is still very much alive, and available on Android and iOS (as well as Windows and Mac). What’s more, BlackBerry Messenger will continue to work on BB10 and BBOS devices.

Download: BBM Enterprise for Android and iOS

BBM Was the Pioneer of Messaging Apps

While some people will be genuinely disappointed to lose access to BBM, most of that will be based on nostalgia. However, the rest of us should remember how BlackBerry Messenger “helped shape messenger platforms to become what they are today.”

If you’re a former BBM user now searching for a new messaging app, there’s always WhatsApp. Or, if you refuse to use WhatsApp, here are the best WhatsApp alternatives. None of which will engender those same feelings BBM did back in the day.

Image Credit: Maurizio Pesce/Flickr

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