14 DAY TRIAL // BlackBerry has just released a new update for BBM Beta for iOS and BlackBerry platform. Both updates contain the same new features and improvements, but the iOS version has a few more bug fixes.
The official changelog has been published along with the update, so we now know what's new in this BBM Beta for both BlackBerry and iOS.
Before moving on to changes, keep in mind that this version of BBM is only available to those who have been accepted into BlackBerry's beta program for this application.
If you already have a BlackBerry Beta Zone account, then you will be able to download the beta version of BlackBerry, but if you're an iOS user, the new version should be available in TestFlight.
The most important improvement included in this update is the ability to chat with people outside your BBM contacts. Basically, you will be able to send and receive messages with email contacts in your address book that are not yet BBM contacts.
These so-called “extended” contacts won't be able to see your profile picture or status updates until you add them as a BBM contact.
According to BlackBerry, there's one limitation, and that's the fact that both sender and recipient must be using the latest beta in order to take advantage of this feature.
Another change confirmed by BlackBerry is the conversion of the Timed and Retracted Messages free services into subscription-based items. They will be available in the BBM Shop and subscribing will allow users to get unlimited access to Timed Messages and Message Retraction.
However, those who do not subscribe to these services will still be able to Retract a maximum of 3 Messages and send a maximum of 3 Timed Messages.
BBM Beta for iOS has a lot more known issues than BlackBerry version
These are all the new features included in the latest BBM Beta for BlackBerry and iOS, but some known issues are still active in both versions.
For example, in BlackBerry 10 there's a known issue when adding contact by PIN, it only shows hex keyboard which means users cannot add contacts with vanity PINs.
iOS has many more known issues than the BlackBerry version. We've listed them below, so make sure to read them to find out what hasn't been fixed yet:
“- Passcode users ONLY: if call recipient receives call while BBM is locked with passcode and recipient does not answer or caller hangs up BBM splash screen appears; - Long display names do not render properly on new call screen; - When sending a message to an Address Book contact, and recipient is not on a version of BBM that supports Address Book contacts, the message contains % text; - Chats restored from iCloud appear with the title "empty Chat" and blank display names. A restart will correct this; - Share map location in BBM chat to BBM Contact, on recipient device tapping map view does not open the map.”