Text messaging has evolved significantly over the past two decades; in the early 2000s, text messages were priced at 10 cents each. During this era, cell phone plans were measured in minutes, and 3G connections were considered fast. Text messaging represented a substantial revenue stream for wireless carriers and was a notable expense for users, particularly those with children who quickly adapted to T9 typing. A pivotal moment in this landscape was the introduction of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), which effectively bypassed carriers. This innovation predated current messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, and RCS.
The latest episode of the podcast Version History explores the development of BBM and examines its eventual decline in popularity. Hosts David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Joanna Stern reflect on their personal experiences with BBM, including why Stern continued to use the app for an extended period. The discussion provides a comprehensive overview of BBM’s history and its legacy in the messaging arena.
BBM anticipated the trend of “everything apps” and integrated a multitude of features, enabling users to share music, send money, and post to social networks within the app. However, a significant factor contributing to BBM’s decline was the decrease in BlackBerry device sales, which led to reduced BBM usage. Additionally, there was a strong internal drive to transform BBM into a global platform, which resulted in major leadership changes at the company.
This episode is the second installment of Version History, following the premiere episode focused on hoverboards. Feedback from listeners has been positive, and the team is actively working on future episodes. For those interested in a deeper exploration of BBM, further resources are provided in the episode.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/podcast/798692/how-blackberry-messenger-set-texting-free