WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 18, 2013) - BBM™ - the iconic mobile social network - will begin rolling out for Android™ and iPhone® customers around the world from September 21. Previously exclusive to BlackBerry® (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSX:BB) smartphones, BBM will be available as a free download in Google Play™ and the App Store(SM). Customers will be able to download BBM by visiting www.BBM.com from their smartphone browser.

BBM gives you a private social network for active, real conversations.

• It's immediate. BBM is always on so you are always connected. And because messages on BBM are typically delivered and read within seconds, it's the closest thing to a live conversation.
• You trust it. BBM always tells you that messages are delivered and read. BBM conversations come alive on a private network you can count on.
• You control it. BBM allows you to choose your contacts and how you share your information. BBM uses a PIN so you don't have to give anyone your phone number or email address.

"BBM is a very engaging messaging service that is simple to use, easy to personalize and has an immediacy that is necessary for mobile communications," said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President for BBM at BlackBerry. "With more than a billion Android, iOS, and BlackBerry smartphones in the market, and no dominant mobile messaging platform, this is absolutely the right time to bring BBM to Android and iPhone customers."