Blacberry introduces new features to messenger app

BBM users can now set a timer for controlling how
long messages and pictures they share with
contacts can be viewed.
Smartphone maker BlackBerry has introduced new
privacy and control features for its messaging app,
BBM, allowing users to delete messages from
chats and share pictures for short duration of time.
Similar to popular photo messaging app Snapchat,
BBM will now allow users to set a timer for
controlling how long messages and pictures they
share with contacts can be viewed within BBM.
The message is hidden until the recipient touches
and holds on the chat. Then, once the timer has
expired (or if the recipient takes their finger off the
screen), the message is no longer visible.
The user also receives a notification if BBM
detects that the recipient has taken a screenshot
of the image or message.
"At the core of the BBM experience is privacy and
control. These two notions are more important
today than ever before as people are looking for
simple ways to help guard against their messages
getting into the wrong hands or being seen by
anyone other than the intended recipient,"
BlackBerry said in a statement.
The new features for BBM introduced today enable
users to communicate with more discretion and
freedom, it added.
Using the message retraction feature, users can
retract their message to remove it from their BBM
chat before or after it has been read, so that it is
no longer visible within the BBM chat.
The Timed Messages and Message Retraction will,
however, be are premium features. While these
will be available free to BBM users for next three
months, these will later be offered as part of a
broader bundle of features with BBM subscription
later.
"These new enhancements to BBM were highly
requested so we're excited to be delivering them to
users today," BlackBerry President Global
Enterprise Services John Sims said.
These capabilities will allow users to be more
creative in how they deliver their messages while
also being confident that their content is kept
private and seen only by its intended recipient, he
added.
Besides, BBM has introduced a new feature that
allows users to request an HD version to enjoy
picture they receive on BBM in full detail.
The new features are available for download over
the next couple of days for BlackBerry 10
smartphones, iPhones and Android smartphones
by installing the latest BBM update in BlackBerry
World, App Store and Google Play.
Introduced in 2005, BBM was a popular messaging
app on BlackBerry handsets. It was later made
available on other platforms like Android and iOS
following strong compete from newer apps like
WhatsApp, LINE and WeChat.