After Apple’s iPhones and Android smartphones became more popular, both BlackBerry and BBM lost major user base. Users flocked to other cross-platform and smarter apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Indonesia-based firm Emtek, which partnered with BlackBerry in 2016, has announced the consumer service of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) will shut down on May 31. "In spite of our substantial efforts, users have moved on to other platforms, while new users proved difficult to sign on," Emtek wrote. However, BBM's enterprise version BBMe has now been opened to general consumers.

Even as consumer version of the application is shutting down, BlackBerry has made an enterprise version of BlackBerry Messenger available to general users through Google and Apple app stores. The application will be available for free in the first year after that it will be available for $2.49 for next six months. The enterprise BBM is available on Play Store and Apple App Store starting today.

After Apple’s iPhones and Android smartphones became more popular, both BlackBerry and BBM lost major user base. Users flocked to other cross-platform and smarter apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Indonesia-based firm Emtek, which partnered with BlackBerry in 2016, has announced the consumer service of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) will shut down on May 31. "In spite of our substantial efforts, users have moved on to other platforms, while new users proved difficult to sign on," Emtek wrote. However, BBM's enterprise version BBMe has now been opened to general consumers.

Even as consumer version of the application is shutting down, BlackBerry has made an enterprise version of BlackBerry Messenger available to general users through Google and Apple app stores. The application will be available for free in the first year after that it will be available for $2.49 for next six months. The enterprise BBM is available on Play Store and Apple App Store starting today.