BlackBerry

RIM

BBM

BlackBerry Partners Fund

RIM announced the commercial launch of BBM6, which it said delivers a “revolutionary social app experience.” Developers can create “BBM connected” titles, which allow users to interact with each other from within the app itself. One of the possible uses highlighted by the vendor was the increasingly popular social gaming category, with players able to invite friends to join them in a game and then hold real-time chats, without leaving the game app. The company said the platform launches with a selection of games already available through BlackBerry App World.

RIM first announced plans to extend BBM to third party developers late last year. In a blog post this week, it said that there are more than 45 million users of the messaging service, and “we know that community is hungry for more apps that integrate with BBM.” In addition to enabling BlackBerry owners to exchange messages when using apps, the platform will also enable them to share details of their favourite apps with friends, or discover the apps that friends are using via their BBM profile.

According to Alistair Mitchell, VP of BBM Platform & Integrated Services at RIM, the launch “represents an incredible opportunity for developers to leverage the viral nature of the BBM service.” BBM app developers can also submit their apps to the BlackBerry Partners Fund Developer Challenge, in the category “Most Addictive Social apps using BBM Social Platform,” until 23 September 2011.

In June 2011, RIM announced its acquisition of Scoreloop, in order to bolster its social gaming efforts.