In this article, I’ll be reviewing, comparing and contrasting two instant messaging social platforms: BlackBerry Messenger and WhatsApp.
BlackBerry Messenger, also known as BBM, is owned by BlackBerry. The social network was ported to Android and iOS late last year as a result of dwindling number of BlackBerry smartphone users whom the app was exclusively designed for.
Whatsapp on the other hand, until it’s February 2014 $19 billion acquisition by FaceBook, was owned by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. The app is available on most mobile phone eco systems including Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone, and even Nokia’s S40 OS.
UPDATES AND INTERACTIVITY
BBM is more interactive than WhatsApp, as users get updates about their friends’ personal message and media activity. Friends can even comment on a given activity, personal message, or display picture, leading to more conversations. You can also see a user’s current country and time, if they have turned the feature on. On WhatsApp, you don’t get alerts on updates about your friends’ personal message unless you actually visit their profile. And you cannot comment on their display picture.
BBM is more interactive than WhatsApp, as users get updates about their friends’ personal message and media activity. Friends can even comment on a given activity, personal message, or display picture, leading to more conversations. You can also see a user’s current country and time, if they have turned the feature on. On WhatsApp, you don’t get alerts on updates about your friends’ personal message unless you actually visit their profile. And you cannot comment on their display picture.
DELIVERY REPORTS
Both BBM and WhatsApp have delivery report system, but BBM is more developed in that regard. While BBM informs you that your message has been sent, delivered and read/viewed, WhatsApp only informs you that your message has been sent and delivered.
Both BBM and WhatsApp have delivery report system, but BBM is more developed in that regard. While BBM informs you that your message has been sent, delivered and read/viewed, WhatsApp only informs you that your message has been sent and delivered.
MULTI-PERSON CHAT
BBM allows you to chat with 2 or more persons at a time under the same chat window. When a participant sends a message, all the other participants are alerted and shown the message. This feature is not available on WhatsApp.
BBM allows you to chat with 2 or more persons at a time under the same chat window. When a participant sends a message, all the other participants are alerted and shown the message. This feature is not available on WhatsApp.
VOICE CALL OVER CHAT
While BBM allows you to make calls using your data to other BBM users with compatible devices, WhatsApp has no such feature.
While BBM allows you to make calls using your data to other BBM users with compatible devices, WhatsApp has no such feature.
ANIMATION
You can use animated, moving images that provide more information on BBM, but images on WhatsApp are static.
You can use animated, moving images that provide more information on BBM, but images on WhatsApp are static.
CELL BROADCAST
Both BBM and WhatsApp support cell broadcast. For one-time cell broadcast, BBM is superior to WhatsApp as it allows for mass ticking of contacts for cell broadcast to be sent. On WhatsApp, you have to tick contacts one at a time, which could be time-consuming.
Both BBM and WhatsApp support cell broadcast. For one-time cell broadcast, BBM is superior to WhatsApp as it allows for mass ticking of contacts for cell broadcast to be sent. On WhatsApp, you have to tick contacts one at a time, which could be time-consuming.
FILE TYPES
BBM supports the sharing of more file types than WhatsApp. For example, you can share .apk, .pdf, .exe, .doc, etc. files on BBM, but not on WhatsApp.
BBM supports the sharing of more file types than WhatsApp. For example, you can share .apk, .pdf, .exe, .doc, etc. files on BBM, but not on WhatsApp.
CHANNELS
Channels is somewhat similar to the concept of Facebook fan page. It allows a user to create a channel that people can join and get their updates, and comment on, or reply to. BBM has the channel functionality unlike WhatsApp.
Channels is somewhat similar to the concept of Facebook fan page. It allows a user to create a channel that people can join and get their updates, and comment on, or reply to. BBM has the channel functionality unlike WhatsApp.
GROUP
Just like channel, Group is similar to the idea of Facebook group. A user can create a group and let others become members. The group has a forum for chat, pictures, events, lists and a group picture. Both BBM and WhatsApp support the group functionality, but that of WhatsApp is not as advanced as that of BBM, and supports only the group chat and picture features.
Just like channel, Group is similar to the idea of Facebook group. A user can create a group and let others become members. The group has a forum for chat, pictures, events, lists and a group picture. Both BBM and WhatsApp support the group functionality, but that of WhatsApp is not as advanced as that of BBM, and supports only the group chat and picture features.
PROFILE PICTURE VIEWING
It is easier to view a user’s profile picture on BBM than on WhatsApp. When a BBM user uploads a picture, it appears on the “Updates,” and when you click on it it appears fully even without Internet connection. You can also easily convert a friend’s display picture to reflect on your own profile with just few clicks. On WhatsApp, you need Internet connection, for the first time, to download a friend’s picture before you can clearly and fully view it. And you cannot convert a friend’s profile picture to appear on your own profile unless you first download it, and then upload it the regular way.
It is easier to view a user’s profile picture on BBM than on WhatsApp. When a BBM user uploads a picture, it appears on the “Updates,” and when you click on it it appears fully even without Internet connection. You can also easily convert a friend’s display picture to reflect on your own profile with just few clicks. On WhatsApp, you need Internet connection, for the first time, to download a friend’s picture before you can clearly and fully view it. And you cannot convert a friend’s profile picture to appear on your own profile unless you first download it, and then upload it the regular way.
DESCRIPTIVE PHOTO SENDING
When sending an image on BBM, you can input some descriptive text against the image before sending it. This feature is not available on WhatsApp.
When sending an image on BBM, you can input some descriptive text against the image before sending it. This feature is not available on WhatsApp.
PING!
This could be a way of calling your friends’ attention. When you send your friend a PING!, their phone makes an alert and vibrates. BBM incorporates this feature, but not WhatsApp.
This could be a way of calling your friends’ attention. When you send your friend a PING!, their phone makes an alert and vibrates. BBM incorporates this feature, but not WhatsApp.
CONTACTS’ VIEW
BBM contacts can appear in either grid or list format; that of WhatsApp can appear only in list format.
BBM contacts can appear in either grid or list format; that of WhatsApp can appear only in list format.
CONVERSATION: MASS COPYING
You can copy to clipboard the entire length of conversation you had with a user on BBM with just a few clicks. On WhatsApp, you have to individually select each item, as many as they are, before you can copy them to clipboard.
You can copy to clipboard the entire length of conversation you had with a user on BBM with just a few clicks. On WhatsApp, you have to individually select each item, as many as they are, before you can copy them to clipboard.
VIDEO SHARING
The maximum video size shareable on BBM is 16MB. If a video file; is higher than 16MB, it cannot be shared on BBM. Come to WhatsApp, video of any length or size can be shared someway. If the length and size of the video is too high, WhatsApp allows you to break the video into reasonable-size parts and send them in succession. You can determine even the segment of a video to be shared, leaving the other parts unsent!
The maximum video size shareable on BBM is 16MB. If a video file; is higher than 16MB, it cannot be shared on BBM. Come to WhatsApp, video of any length or size can be shared someway. If the length and size of the video is too high, WhatsApp allows you to break the video into reasonable-size parts and send them in succession. You can determine even the segment of a video to be shared, leaving the other parts unsent!
MEDIA RECEIPT HANDLING
If someone sends you a video or image on BBM, and while downloading it, it happens that it fails, you cannot re-download the file; the sender must re-send the file to you. On WhatsApp, if the file download fails, you can re-download the file without requesting that the sender re-send the file.
If someone sends you a video or image on BBM, and while downloading it, it happens that it fails, you cannot re-download the file; the sender must re-send the file to you. On WhatsApp, if the file download fails, you can re-download the file without requesting that the sender re-send the file.
CONCLUSION
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