The Vergecast Version History: BlackBerry Messenger
88 snips
Oct 12, 2025 
Nilay Patel, a senior technology editor, and Joanna Stern, a tech columnist and BlackBerry enthusiast, dive into the fascinating history of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). They discuss how BBM revolutionized mobile messaging, introducing features like real-time delivery and group chats back in 2005. The duo reflects on its cultural impact, cross-platform dilemmas, and the operational issues that led to its decline. With engaging anecdotes and sharp insights, they explore whether BBM could have thrived today and what modern apps might learn from its legacy.
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BBM Solved SMS Pain Points
- BBM introduced instant, cross-carrier mobile messaging when SMS was expensive and unreliable.
- That combination of free delivery and read receipts created immediate stickiness and cultural momentum.
Regional Status Of BlackBerrys
- Joanna and Nilay recall regional splits: BlackBerrys on the East Coast, cheaper feature phones in the Midwest.
- The hosts use that memory to explain how BBM adoption followed social and geographic status markers.
BBM Bridged Desktop IM And Mobile
- In 2005 instant messaging on PCs rivaled email and mobile messaging was still limited and costly.
- BBM bridged desktop IM behavior to mobile, filling a fast-growing user need for real-time conversation off the PC.
