BlackBerry Postpone BBM Release for iOS and Android following Leak

Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry has had to hold up the global roll out of its popular BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) instant chat software on the iOS 7 and Android operating systems after an unofficial version of the app was leaked online this weekend, The Independent reports.

As the company geared up to make the app available for the first time on the other smartphone operating systems, an unauthorised version of the Android app was posted online and downloaded by curious Android users 1.1 million times in just 8 hours.

This leak caused the Canadian company a number of issues that it had to spend most of Saturday trying to resolve.

Due the leak, the rollout of the iOS 7 version of the software, which has so far only been released in New Zealand, has had to be paused.

An official statement on BlackBerry’s website reads, “Prior to launching BBM for Android, an unreleased version of the BBM for Android app was posted online. The interest and enthusiasm we have seen already – more than 1.1 million active users in the first 8 hours without even launching the official Android app – is incredible. Consequently, this unreleased version caused issues, which we have attempted to address throughout the day.

“Our teams continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it's ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM. We are pausing the global roll-out of BBM for Android and iPhone. Customers who have already downloaded BBM for iPhone will be able to continue to use BBM. The unreleased Android app will be disabled, and customers who downloaded it should visit www.BBM.com to register for updates on official BBM for Android availability.”