Exchanging messages was possible to a single person or via dedicated discussion or chat groups, which allowed multiple BlackBerry devices to communicate in a single session. In the past, many service providers allowed sign-in to BBM using a dedicated BlackBerry data plan. Messages sent via BBM were sent over the Internet and used the BlackBerry PIN system. BBM Consumer for Android and iOS was shut down on, however the paid enterprise version of the software, BBMe, is still supported on these platforms. The consumer edition for BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10, as well as the paid enterprise edition, called BBM Enterprise (BBMe, formerly known as BBM Protected), were developed fully by BlackBerry Limited and continue to function.

The consumer edition for iOS and Android, BBM Consumer, was developed by Indonesian company Emtek under licence from BlackBerry Limited (formerly known as Research In Motion). BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, iOS, Android, Windows Phone 8, Windows 10 Mobile, Nokia XīBM, also known by its full name BlackBerry Messenger, was a proprietary mobile instant messenger and videotelephony application included on BlackBerry devices that allows messaging and voice calls between BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile users.

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