BlackBerry unveils the next crucial step in BBM’s evolution

Amid all the turmoil of its flailing mobile phone business, BlackBerry has finally found success with the cross-platform version BBM and is attempting to continue that growth by preloading the messaging software on select Android phones. Along with the potential for external growth, the functionality of the app is expanding as well with the release of Channels. Channels are a new way to interact with the brands, artists and communities you follow. You can start a public conversation with the other followers of any Channel or send a private message to the owner of the Channel. You can create your own Channel right now on BlackBerry’s website, but in order to access the new mobile feature, you will need a BlackBerry device. The addition should be migrating to iOS and Android versions of BBM “in the coming months,” the company says.