Two decades ago, text messaging came with a price tag of 10 cents per message. During a time when mobile phone plans revolved around minutes and even 3G speeds were considered impressive, sending texts represented a significant revenue stream for telecommunications providers and a substantial cost for families, especially those with kids who had quickly mastered the art of T9 text input. The landscape shifted when BlackBerry, at the peak of its influence, disrupted the norm by eliminating the need for carriers. Before apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, and RCS became dominant, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) emerged as a pioneering service. Though BBM may no longer be in use, its impact remains significant.
In the latest episode of Version History, a new series exploring key technological advancements, the discussion centers on the origin and eventual decline of BBM. Hosts David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Joanna Stern share their personal experiences with the app, including Joanna’s reflections on her prolonged attachment to BBM, before delving into an analysis of the app’s historical significance and legacy.
Listeners will discover that BBM had foresight regarding many aspects of mobile communication. BlackBerry recognized the potential of an “everything app” early on, incorporating a wide array of features that covered sharing music, sending money, and even connecting to social networks.
However, the app ultimately faced challenges, particularly around user retention. The decline in BlackBerry device sales corresponded with a decrease in BBM usage. Additionally, internal ambitions to transform BBM into a global platform sparked a series of leadership changes within the company, leading to one of the most intriguing hypotheticals in the messaging domain.
This episode marks the second installment of Version History, following an earlier discussion on hoverboards. To engage with the series, you can access it through the following platforms:
- The Version History podcast feed
- Technology News’s YouTube channel
- The Vergecast’s podcast feed (limited to the first eight episodes)
Gratitude is extended to all who have engaged with the show and provided feedback. The team is actively developing future episodes and welcomes suggestions for improvement. For those interested in further exploring BBM, a curated list of additional resources is available:
- The BlackBerry scene about free texting
- From MobileTracker: Yahoo, AOL and RIM team up
- From TechCrunch: BBM’s Android and iOS launch experience
- From TechCrunch: BBM’s rollout for iOS and Android
- From The Wall Street Journal: BlackBerry considers Messenger spinoff
- From CrackBerry: BBM 2.0 now available for BlackBerry, Android, and iOS
- From The Globe and Mail: Exploring BlackBerry’s downfall: an insider perspective
- Research insights: the fate of BlackBerry CEOs
- Analysis of how BlackBerry’s success led to its own decline
