Today RIM announces the availability of APIs for its BBM messaging platform for Java developers around the world that allows developers to build apps based on the BBM features. So far, many have said that the Blackberry Messenger is the only feature that kept Blackberry users from switch to other platforms, this move can certainly be seen as a form of suicidal act by RIM.
With this API, developers can take advantage of services such as LBS, multimedia, VoIP and video which are well integrated with BBM contacts for sharing real-time services. Given the number of Blackberry users in major cities in Indonesia, this can expose new potentials that were previously closed especially with high-virality nature of BBM.
In general, it looks like RIM wants to boost its popularity among third-party developers that have been complaining about how difficult it is to develop applications for Blackberry devices. A few fellow developers even expressed their frustration while developing apps for the Blackberry complaining about the lack of API documentation, how disorganized it is, functional limitations and others. This certainly makes the RIM worried, because third-party developers is currently a major driver of platform’s ecosystem, as seen in developer ecosystem under Apple (IOS) and Google (Android).
The question remains, is RIM being suicidal by opening the API for Blackberry Messenger? Not really. The features open for developers to use is still very limited and not letting any potential competitors who could enter and steal the BBM market.
Looking at the Indonesian market, this could mean a lot for RIM. Indonesian people will start using BBM-integrated apps and potentially giving RIM a whole new relationship for Indonesian developers. They should try hard to win the hearts of Indonesian developers, local content is the only way for RIM can win in Indonesia
*update
even though the PR firm told us that RIM is launching this feature today, the SDK was actually launched since last week
Full press release
Today Research In Motion (RIM) announced the global availability of the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry Java final version and the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry WebWorks™ first public beta version. The BBM Social Platform SDK is the toolset which enables developers to build a new class of super apps that leverage the power of the BBM social interactions. BBM has over 45 million active users world-wide and is growing at over 2 million active users per month.
The SDKs give Java and web developers access to new APIs that enable them to deeply integrate BBM social interactions in their apps, providing better differentiation. They can also leverage a powerful paradigm for app monetization through the viral distribution channel represented by the conversations of 45 million BBM users. They can build highly socially engaging apps including multimedia, gaming, location-based services (LBS), VoIP, video and commerce that now bring users’ friends, families, and colleagues into those experiences. Within those apps, not only can users connect and chat with BBM contacts but they can also share application achievements and content in real time.
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry Java
The final version of the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for Blackberry Java adds a few changes and refinements to the platform since the last beta refresh in the spring of this year. These additions further equip BlackBerry to be the mobile platform of choice for delivering social applications and experiences. Below are a few of the APIs new in this release that enable developers to deliver engaging and interactive social experiences:
- The ability for an application to receive invitations from other users who are not on their contact list.
- Contact picker UI changed to improve the selection of multiple contacts and for initiating a multi-user chat.
- The ability to send a join invitation to a user who does not have the app installed.
- A new API to determine whether the app is running on the test platform or production platform.
Developers can already get started and download the final version of the BBM Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry Java now available from BlackBerry Developer Zone at http://us.blackberry.com/developers/blackberrymessenger/ to create the new build for their apps. BBM 6 will support apps using the BBM Social Platform.
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry WebWorks
At its first public beta the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry WebWorks adds full support to the BlackBerry WebWorks platform and brings the amazing features of the BBM Social Platform to web developers. Now they can add social features to their web application through the following APIs:
- access and update fields in the user’s BBM profile such as status, avatar and personal message
- create their own custom areas within the user’s BBM profile for promoting recent application activity or storing trophies and achievements
- initiate BBM chats with friends
- initiate BBM file transfers
- share applications virally with friends in their contact list
- initiate application-to-application background communication through BBM for sending and receiving application data, such as game moves, or alternatively, leverage this communication channel for enabling in-app chat
The beta version for BlackBerry WebWorks can be downloaded from the BlackBerry Developer Zone athttp://us.blackberry.com/developers/blackberrymessenger/
To learn more about the BBM Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry Java and the BBM Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry WebWorks and how developers can submit their apps to App World go tohttp://devblog.blackberry.com/2011/06/bbm-sdk-for-java and http://devblog.blackberry.com/2011/06/bbm-sdk-for-webworks respectively.
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