https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/18/the-consumer-version-of-bbm-is-shutting-down-on-may-31/

The coming of WhatsApp and other instant
messaging applications such as Telegram, WeChat
and Facebook Messenger saw its popularity of BBM
fade out.



BlackBerry Thursday announced that it will be
shutting down its BBM consumer service on 31 May
2019.

“Today we’re announcing that we will be closing
BBM consumer service on 31 May 2019,” BBM said
in a blog post on its website.

The proprietary mobile instant messenger and
videotelephony application said it is shutting down
because “ 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,” it added.

Blackberry had in 2018 shut down the Blackberry
Playbook Video service.

BBM was very popular in the early 2000s. But the
coming of WhatsApp and other instant messaging
applications such as Telegram, WeChat and
Facebook Messanger saw its popularity fade out.
Back in 2016, BlackBerry announced a new
partnership with Indonesia-based Emtek to help
expand the consumer BBM business.


As part of the partnership, Emtek expanded the
capabilities of BBM for consumers with new
features and enhancements while BlackBerry
maintained control over their BBM Enterprise
solution.

“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,” Blackberry said.


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

Blackberry said users’ data such as photos, videos
and files will be available for download before the
app is shut down at the end of May.

“Once the BBM service is shut down, you will not be
able to open BBM on your device to see any old or
new messages, or retrieve asset files,” it said.

https://www.tori.ng/news/120735/blackberry-messenger-is-shutting-down.html

I blame BlackBerry for sharin BBM with androids and iphones. If BBM was strictly for blackberry users, it would have been among the top 3 messaging platform now. And blackberry wouldnt have died naturally

A legend dies