[Article] BlackBerry Exploring Alternatives to Whatsapp
- BlackBerry 'exploring alternatives' to WhatsApp for BB10
This is ridiculous. How about, oh, I dunno, BBM?!? You do own it and everything! I understand that a lot of BlackBerry users use WhatsApp, so this is a relevant issue, but this is almost comical.
The irony that WhatsApp initially, heavily targeted BBM users when they first launched, aside, it's so sad that BBM is just going to waste. It's a great app, and they should have been marketing it down people's throats. They're so concerned about how to slowly monetize BBM, when clearly having the users is where the real value is.03-03-16 01:25 PMLike 4 - BlackBerry 'exploring alternatives' to WhatsApp for BB10
This is ridiculous. How about, oh, I dunno, BBM?!? You do own it and everything! I understand that a lot of BlackBerry users use WhatsApp, so this is a relevant issue, but this is almost comical.
The irony that WhatsApp initially, heavily targeted BBM users when they first launched, aside, it's so sad that BBM is just going to waste. It's a great app, and they should have been marketing it down people's throats. They're so concerned about how to slowly monetize BBM, when clearly having the users is where the real value is.
By the time BBM went cross platform (and a year went by while it was in beta and unusable), WhatsApp, LINE and a dozen other had already eaten away most of BBMs market share, and had become the main choices.
I really love the whole " commitment to BlackBerry 10 and our developers is unwavering," - I've seen no sign that BlackBerry is committed to developers in ANY way. No new developer tools, no plans to upgrade the runtime, ending of the Built for BlackBerry program, problems with developer payments....
Let's face it... for the customer base that BB10 will be appealing too during this period, there isn't much need for Whatsapp.JeepBB and anon(9188202) like this.03-03-16 01:37 PMLike 2 - DenverRalphyRetired Network ModI think you missed the entire point of the article. The point wasn't to find an alternative messaging client or service altogether. Obviously BBM is there. Instead, the point was exploring alternatives options to still support Whatsapp after Whatsapp's official support ends. ie... BBRY is considering an option to provide an in-house development option to continue supporting Whatsapp after Whatsapp themselves halt development. Basically, BBRY is tossing out the option of "If you'll allow us, we'll continue development of the app at no cost to you."03-03-16 04:26 PMLike 4
- I think you missed the entire point of the article. The point wasn't to find an alternative messaging client or service altogether. Obviously BBM is there. Instead, the point was exploring alternatives options to still support Whatsapp after Whatsapp's official support ends. ie... BBRY is considering an option to provide an in-house development option to continue supporting Whatsapp after Whatsapp themselves halt development. Basically, BBRY is tossing out the option of "If you'll allow us, we'll continue development of the app at no cost to you."
Posted via CB1003-03-16 05:47 PMLike 2 - Maybe they could spend those dollars not on facilitating their competitors app, but rather by beefing up their own. I don't know like adding the long promised BBM Video to BBM Android...the os your flagship phone is using. Use those dollars to support the servers for that service. Dark theme wouldn't hurt either.03-03-16 06:18 PMLike 4
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None of this changes the fact that they have no choice but to figure out how to service BlackBerry WhatsApp users, and they are going to spend a lot of resources doing so, which could be used elsewhere. It's just sad.03-04-16 03:45 PMLike 0 - I think you missed the entire point of the article. The point wasn't to find an alternative messaging client or service altogether. Obviously BBM is there. Instead, the point was exploring alternatives options to still support Whatsapp after Whatsapp's official support ends. ie... BBRY is considering an option to provide an in-house development option to continue supporting Whatsapp after Whatsapp themselves halt development. Basically, BBRY is tossing out the option of "If you'll allow us, we'll continue development of the app at no cost to you."03-04-16 03:57 PMLike 0
- Nope, BB won't spend a dime on this. They'll instead issue a PR saying they are working on a way around this. I'm pretty sure that'll be the extent of BB's "efforts"03-05-16 03:16 PMLike 4
- Yeah, I understood that. I'm just saying it's very sad, and somewhat ironic that they are going to be spending all of these resources to develop someone else's competing service (if they're allowed). If they would have just taken BBM cross platform earlier, when Balsillie wanted to (and yes, I know hindsight is 20/20) WhatsApp wouldn't even be on the map. Now, they have to waste time and money solving this problem.03-05-16 03:41 PMLike 0
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As others have said, this is just what PR guys say when instructed to keep BB10 going along for another quarter or two.JeepBB and chance1180 like this.03-05-16 04:06 PMLike 2 - That is exactly the purpose of their so-called exploring alternatives. Just so BBry can squeeze the last bb10 devices out of their inventory. They would say anything right now to make customers think bb10 is still afloat and a viable OS. Profits are one hell of a drug.03-05-16 05:14 PMLike 4
- One of WhatsApp's reasons for discontinuing support for BB10 is the lack of avalable API's to them, that would cause their development team problems as whatsapp moves forward.
Maybe BlackBerry would look into opening up more api's in 10.3.4.
Q10 - 10.3.2.2876/SR .2836 < α∂∂ι�т > 03-06-16 03:15 AMLike 0 -
I seriously doubt that the "we're done with BB10 tool support" decision would be reversed in 10.3.4. There's no will to develop BB10 within BB and, even if there were that will, most of the developers who would do that work are either working on the Priv Apps, or working for some other company. And, as I doubt BB10's market share is going to increase from this point on, even if those developer tools were updated, the already pitiful (and shrinking) BB market share likely removes any remaining incentive for WhatsApp to continue supporting BB10.
BB can "explore alternatives" all they want, though as I've mentioned I think that's meaningless PR fluff to keep the faithful on-board, but it's over.03-06-16 04:50 AMLike 4 - BB told Devs, in a well-publicised letter of several months ago, that development of the SDK, APIs, Android RT, etc, etc was frozen in place and that no further updates to the toolset would be coming. WhatsApp has good reason to point the finger at BB in this, but I'm sure BB's disappearing market share was the decider for WhatsApp.
I seriously doubt that the "we're done with BB10 tool support" decision would be reversed in 10.3.4. There's no will to develop BB10 within BB and, even if there were that will, most of the developers who would do that work are either working on the Priv Apps, or working for some other company. And, as I doubt BB10's market share is going to increase from this point on, even if those developer tools were updated, the already pitiful (and shrinking) BB market share likely removes any remaining incentive for WhatsApp to continue supporting BB10.
BB can "explore alternatives" all they want, though as I've mentioned I think that's meaningless PR fluff to keep the faithful on-board, but it's over.
An update for BlackBerry� 10 Developers | BlackBerry Developer Blog03-06-16 12:07 PMLike 0 - They did say new API's will be released "as required", I assume that means existing private API's could be made public to some extent if needed. Whether or not they actually do release them is anyone's guess.
An update for BlackBerry 10 Developers | BlackBerry Developer Blog
The "truth" is that BB really *is* done with BB10. To believe otherwise is delusional IMO.
BB10 *phones* will continue to work for as long as the owner is prepared to use a platform that is frozen-in-time, as several posters here have indicated they are willing to do. That strategy is sustainable providing the wider tech world doesn't move too fast. Steadily, existing apps will cease to work, new apps won't work on the elderly Android RT, native BB10 development won't happen, new protocols and frequency bands will come, and your BB10 phone will eventually cease to be usable.
Anyone prepared to become a BB10 die-hard and hold onto their BB10 phone "forever", will have an increasingly unproductive and frustrating future. I doubt too many will follow that road for long.
All in my opinion of course, though to believe otherwise likely involves unicorns.LuvULongTime and chance1180 like this.03-06-16 12:51 PMLike 2 - The "we'll add more stuff as required" is yet more PR fluff designed to soften the harsh "we're done with further BB10 development" message of the main text IMO. I wouldn't bet a cent on the likelihood that BB would *ever* determine that more stuff is "required" in BB10.
The "truth" is that BB really *is* done with BB10. To believe otherwise is delusional IMO.
BB10 *phones* will continue to work for as long as the owner is prepared to use a platform that is frozen-in-time, as several posters here have indicated they are willing to do. That strategy is sustainable providing the wider tech world doesn't move too fast. Steadily, existing apps will cease to work, new apps won't work on the elderly Android RT, native BB10 development won't happen, new protocols and frequency bands will come, and your BB10 phone will eventually cease to be usable.
Anyone prepared to become a BB10 die-hard and hold onto their BB10 phone "forever", will have an increasingly unproductive and frustrating future. I doubt too many will follow that road for long.
All in my opinion of course, though to believe otherwise likely involves unicorns.
I do wonder if there are any stats in regards to how many "high profile" apps on BlackBerry World still work, partially work, etc.JeepBB likes this.03-06-16 03:11 PMLike 1 -
The stock Facebook is the best example of how apps will stop functioning correcty over time, facebook made server-sided changes, and BlackBerry didnt/couldn't update their client. I say couldn't because I don't think the New API's were public.
For argument sake, let's pretend that all the native devs decided to stop working on their apps, the following apps would stop functioning correctly over time:
* Inst10
* SuperTube
* Evolution Browser
* Bowsie
* Face10
* FastTube
* Twittly
* ReaditNow
* Hub Browser
* IGrann
That's just a list off the top of my head, I'm sure there plenty of other apps I've not included that require Internet communication.
Here's a small list of apps I believe that would always work as stated:
* ClipMan
* Camera++
* StarTracker
* Duckto
* PhotoStudio
* PSP (privacy studio pro)
Q10 - 10.3.2.2876/SR .2836 < α∂∂ι�т > 03-06-16 04:24 PMLike 3 - The only apps that will lose their functionality are those that require a connection to a server for its key functionality, or form communication with the Internet. For instance, say the dev for the SuperTube youtube client stopped updating his app then it would stop functioning the day google made any changes on their Youtube server. On the other hand, apps such as ClipMan would work forever as it's an offline utility app.
The stock Facebook is the best example of how apps will stop functioning correcty over time, facebook made server-sided changes, and BlackBerry didnt/couldn't update their client. I say couldn't because I don't think the New API's were public.
For argument sake, let's pretend that all the native devs decided to stop working on their apps, the following apps would stop functioning correctly over time:
* Inst10
* SuperTube
* Evolution Browser
* Bowsie
* Face10
* FastTube
* Twittly
* ReaditNow
* Hub Browser
* IGrann
That's just a list off the top of my head, I'm sure there plenty of other apps I've not included that require Internet communication.
Here's a small list of apps I believe that would always work as stated:
* ClipMan
* Camera++
* StarTracker
* Duckto
* PhotoStudio
* PSP (privacy studio pro)
Q10 - 10.3.2.2876/SR .2836 < α∂∂ι�т >
But you're right, apps that don't connect to a service should work just fine barring any compatibility issues that may arise with an OS update.03-06-16 05:24 PMLike 0 -
I've even used tools like lucky patcher to modify it's apk to remove advertisements etc. Each app would be an individual bases.
When the news came that WhatsApp are ending support for their native app at the end of 2016 had caused a big stir-up around here. Many, I believe jumped to the conclusion that whatsapp will stop working completely on new years day, 2017. We could, for instance have a situation where the core functionality lasts us the next two years (messaging only) but the voice notes stop working properly.
I'd say that it would last longer as it's an official app and not a third party client. Best example is that I'm using a really old version of Messenger for Facebook (android) as it plays nice with the runtime and works properly, even though it's really old.
Q10 - 10.3.2.2876/SR .2836 < α∂∂ι�т > 03-06-16 05:52 PMLike 0 -
I'd say that it would last longer as it's an official app and not a third party client. Best example is that I'm using a really old version of Messenger for Facebook (android) as it plays nice with the runtime and works properly, even though it's really old.
Q10 - 10.3.2.2876/SR .2836 < α∂∂ι�т > JeepBB likes this.03-06-16 06:19 PMLike 1
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