[habs_fan]

BlackBerry Considering Skype-like VoIP BBM Service | N4BB

"We’ve long wondered if BlackBerry would ever push BBM into the arenas of services like Skype and Viber.*David Proulx, BlackBerry’s Senior Director of BBM Business Development, said BBM voice will continue to remain free although the company hasn’t ruled out offering VoIP services like Skype.

“The Skype model is one possibility. There are also other approaches that we can take in terms of monetisation,” said Proulx.

“We are still investing in the organic elements that drive users. Any monetisation is driven by large user base. Our idea is to take BBM to as many end-points as possible,” he added.

BlackBerry plans to allow BBM users to message all of their friends. The company plans to roll out BBM on Windows Phone in the next few months.

“Apart from Android and iOS, the company plans to introduce a Windows mobile version within the next three months. We introduced support for the Gingerbread. We also introduced relationship with Nokia. We are already on Nokia X.

“In five months since launching BBM, we have seen significant increase in terms of usage. We have about 85 million active users of the total number 113 million registered users,” said Proulx.

BlackBerry will continue to focus on its multi-pronged strategy to achieving its goals with BBM. In terms of monetization, the company will not do so at the expense of the end user.

“We are not taking one particular approach. Instead we are taking a portfolio approach in terms of commercialisation. This provides us with an avenue to either accelerate or decelerate according to our requirement,” he said.

BlackBerry*continues to expand the BBM feature list and add services like Shop, Channels, and eventually video on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. Perhaps the next feature will expand BBM as a VoIP client."

Thoughts? I think it's a great idea, a good way to get some more money out of BBM plus I would get other family to download and use instead of Skype

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[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

BlackBerry is considering EVERYTHING!

In my area, I don't see a big demand for VoIP. But I can see where in other markets it would be a premium service that people would gladly pay for - but then again many of those markets don't have a lot of free Wi-Fi in every home, and data can be expensive... so who really knows. And as always BlackBerry is showing up late to a crowded party. People that want VoIP and have access to either an unlimited data plan or have a Wi-Fi network, are already using a product. Will BBM be cheaper (at least in the beginning), will it be better?

[Ment]

What is BB's strategy with BBM. Doubt enough people will pay for VOIP functionality and BBM isn't being used for ads (Google) or to generate device sales (Apple).

[stabstabdie]

It already has voip.....
Unless they mean to call phone numbers....

[habs_fan]

It already has voip.....
Unless they mean to call phone numbers....

That's what I'm sure they mean, I would think. Hopefully, I don't know how much I would use it, but you never know it's nice to have that option

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[anon(1464249)]

Finally a Senior executive outlining the BBM strategy... I've been championing a VOIP service for months...
It makes perfect sense and it's a must if they want to compete against Lync in the enterprise space. A secure desktop client with the ability to add landline numbers to it.

My latest rant covered all this => http://forums.crackberry.com/armchai...d-back-908320/

[stabstabdie]

That's what I'm sure they mean, I would think. Hopefully, I don't know how much I would use it, but you never know it's nice to have that option

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Agreed

[46Nico40]

I guarantee people would subscribe to the VOIP service if it allowed them to call internationally. BBM is Blackberry's biggest asset. If they launch it right I'm sure people will freak out. Skype is only average anyways..

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[Stephen Cooper]

Don't consider it, do it. Live video streaming is the feature bbm needs.

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