BlackBerry Messenger now available to phones running Android 2.3

[wraggster]

http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/adam/a1d824dd0cbae176778f2b4bcb313d03/bbm-android.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/18/blackberry-messenger-android-gingerbread/)If you see BlackBerry announcing a million or so new users in the next few days, it's not because the company's finally seeing an increase in sales (http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/20/blackberry-q3-earnings-huge-loss-foxconn-partnership/). It's becauseAlicia Keys' ex-employer (http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/02/bye-bye-blackberry-alicia-keys-out-as-global-creative-director/) has kept its promise (http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/28/gingerbread-bbm/) to launch BBM for Android 2.3 on Google Play after weeks of beta testing. The previous Android version (http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/22/bbm-ios-android-10-million-downloads/) of the cross-platform messenger only worked on devices running Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) or higher, but existing users can now reach more of their friends. After all, Gingerbread still powers (http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/11/android-device-share-january-2014/) a large number of Android devices worldwide, since low-cost handsets are especially popular in developing markets. Unfortunately, Windows Phone users still have to sit out (http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/17/even-blackberry-thinks-windows-phone-is-too-small/) BBM convos, but those in Canada can at least demand BlackBerry donuts (http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/31/blackberry-donut/) from friends as consolation.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/18/blackberry-messenger-android-gingerbread/