BBM Beta now available for all Windows Phone users

BlackBerry has announced the launch of BBM for Windows Phone, and BlackBerry Messenger is now available in beta on Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform. BBM for Windows Phone is now available to download from the Windows Phone Store, the app will work with both Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices.

“We are intent on bringing the most popular application experiences to Windows Phone, and with BBM, we are pleased to bring many of its top features to the Windows Phone platform,” said Bryan Biniak, Vice President and General Manager, Developer Experience, Microsoft. “BBM on Windows Phone brings our customers the secure, easy-to-use messaging experience they demand, and we expect that new features will roll out in the months to come.”

“As the popularity of BBM continues to grow, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand its availability to the Windows Phone community,” said John Sims, President Global Enterprise Services at BlackBerry. “The BBM app for Windows Phone shows our commitment to supporting cross-platform capabilities, and we are excited to be working with Microsoft to deliver a new level of collaboration to the Windows Phone platform.”

The BBM app for Windows Phone builds on the collaboration, privacy and security features that are at the core of the BBM experience loved by more than 85 million monthly active users around the world. Built specifically for the Windows Phone experience, BBM users will have a familiar, native user experience that embraces the clean, modern design of the Windows Phone UI.

Starting today, Windows Phone 8 users can download BBM and gain access to renowned features, including. Just what does BBM for Windows Phone offer? BlackBerry touted a range of features, most of which are already familiar to BBM users.

BBM Chats. The Chats page in BBM for Windows Phone displays all of your chats, including those with individuals, multiple users, and entire groups. Notifications will pop up to let you know when your messages are delivered and read. During a chat, you can also share different items, including a photo, a voice note, contact information, and your location.

BBM Groups. The Groups feature lets you add up to 50 people to a single chat.

Find Friends. You can find other people using BBM and invite them to your contact list without having to exit the app. You can also share your PIN to connect with other people so that you don't have to give out your email address or phone number.

BBM Feeds. The Feeds feature lets you check in on the status of your BBM contacts. You can also tap on the name of a contact from this feature in order to initiate a chat.

Pin to Start. You can pin your BBM groups and individual chats to the Start screen for easier access.

Additional features for BBM on Windows Phone will continue to be added in future releases.