The much awaited BBM for Android and iOS was
launched officially on 21st September 2013. Unfortunately due to some pirates
and Leaks it had to be withdrawn temporarily: to be released soon.
Many of lucky users who had installed the
application are still able to experience BBM on Non-BlackBerry handset. Using
the USP of a Brand and connecting to people.
The below article will help the new users and existing
users as well to understand the product and troubleshoot on its own.
Product Overview
BBM offers users a private social network for their
active, real conversations.
· It’s immediate
BBM is always on so users are always connected. And because messages on
BBM are delivered and read within seconds, it’s the closest thing to a live
conversation.
· You trust it
BBM always tells you when messages are delivered and read. BBM
conversations live on a private network you can count on.
· You control it
BBM allows users to choose their contacts and how they share their
information. BBM uses a PIN so users don’t have to share their phone number or
email.
Features
When BBM becomes available for iPhone and Android,
it will provide customers with:
· BBM Chat
With BBM™ you can have real conversations with friends on iPhone,
Android™ and BlackBerry®. Not only does BBM let you know when your
messages have been delivered and read, it also tells you when people are
responding to your message. Emoticons for every mood and emotion help you
express yourself in your chats.
· More than chat
With BBM™ you can do more than just chat. Share attachments like photos,
voice notes, all in an instant. So you have the freedom to get your message
across however you want.
· Bring people together
Multi-person chats are a great way to invite contacts to chat together.
With BBM Groups you can invite up to 30 friends to chat together, share photos
and schedules. And, with broadcast messages, you can choose to send a message
out to all of your BBM contacts at once.
· Profiles
Choose a profile picture for your BBM contacts to see and update your
BBM status to let people know what you’re up to.
· Updates
With BBM™ Updates you will know instantly when your contacts update
their profile photos or statuses. Then jump straight in to a Chat to talk about
their latest news.
· Your unique PIN
Every BBM™ user has a unique PIN, so you don’t have to share your phone number
or email address. Your PIN helps protect your privacy and means you’re always
in control of the information you share. And on BBM you choose your
contacts so you have control over who can chat with you.
Smartphone requirements
BBM will be available for free on Android devices
running Ice Cream Sandwich and higher and on iPhones running iOS 6 and higher.
How will customers get BBM for their iPhone or Android phone?
Customers will download BBM for their iPhone or
Android phone by visiting BBM.com or downloading the app directly from the
Apple App Store or Google Play.
BBM will be free to download.
Support Advisory
Wireless
service providers are encouraged, but not required, to provide standard levels
of support for BBM. Customers should be directed to the self-service resources
found within this document to troubleshoot various issues on their own. If
advanced troubleshooting is required for BBM, then the service provider may
escalate the issue to the BlackBerry Technical Support team as per standard pre-defined
escalation procedures.
Troubleshooting Information
The
BlackBerry Knowledge Base provides technical support documentation, including
product guides and manuals, to allow BlackBerry smartphone users to
troubleshoot various issues on their own. Documentation for troubleshooting
issues with BBM can be found at: www.blackberry.com/btsc
using the following search term: BBM.
Self Service Resources
The BBM support page offers customers multiple self-service
options, including product documentation, how-to demos, tips & tricks, and
YouTube® videos, plus much more.
Social Support Resources
Twitter®
provides BlackBerry users with social support for BBM searchable
using the hashtag #BBM Tweets from BlackBerryHelp account
will provide information such as tips and tricks to Knowledge Base articles and
links to Inside BlackBerry Help Blog posts.
Troubleshooting For BBM on ANDROID and IOS
System Requirements
For what platforms and devices is BBM available?
In addition to
BlackBerry smartphones, BBM™ is currently available on iPhone and Android
devices.
For iPhone, BBM
supports iOS V.6 and iOS v7 or later (iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone
5).
For Android, BBM
supports smartphones running Android V.4.0 (Ice cream Sandwich) and later and with
a screen size of 7" or less(Nexus 4Samsung Galaxy SIV, SIII, SII Samsung
Galaxy Note and Note II**).
Additional
platforms and devices may be added at a later date. Devices or platforms not
listed here are not supported, for the latest news and information, please visit www.bbm.com
Is BBM free? Do I need to have a data plan to use it?
Yes. BBM is free to download. Like many apps, BBM requires access to the
Internet and contributes toward your wireless data usage when you're not
connected to a Wi-Fi® network.
Some wireless service providers offer ways to check your data usage so that you
know whether your service plan is appropriate for the amount that you use each
month.
Is there a limit on the size of file that I can send?
Currently, you
can only send files that are 6 MB or smaller
Will BBM support emojis?
BBM can display
certain emojis, which are special emoticons created for Japanese electronic
messages and web pages. Your contacts might not be able to see emojis that you
copy and paste from a website into BBM.
Is BBM on iPhone and Android devices available in other languages?
BBM on iPhone
and Android devices is available from the App Store and Google Play in over 35
different languages. For a complete list, visit the App Store or Google
Play.
Are Android custom ROMs supported?
No. Custom ROMs
are not supported.
Are animated avatars supported?
Yes animated
avatars are supported in BBM.
When attempting to use animated avatars in BBM, please keep the following requirements
in mind:
• Maximum file size: 32KB
• Supported file types: GIF
• Image must be in dimensions of a square, for example 30px x 30px, 40px x
40px, etc.
• 30px x 30px minimum
• 333px x 333px maximum
• 100px is optimal
Will BlackBerry® Enterprise Server administrators have access to the
development files for mass deployment or to block the application?
No. BBM is
available through BlackBerry World, the App Store, and Google Play at any time.
General Information
Where can I download BBM?
BBM can be
downloaded from the BlackBerry® World™ storefront, the App Store, and Google
Play™
Does BBM support chats between platforms?
Yes, as long as
you and your friends have BBM installed on a supported iPhone, Android, or
BlackBerry smartphone, you can chat with your friends across platforms.
What is a BBM PIN and how do I find it?
A PIN is a
unique identifier used in BBM. PINs are automatically generated for iPhone and
Android users and are set when you log in for the first time. People can invite
you to become BBM contacts if they know your BBM PIN or if you show them your
BBM barcode.
1. Tap your BBM picture or name.
2. Tap Show Barcode.
To copy your PIN, tap Copy PIN.
Can I use BBM to message someone who doesn't have BBM?
No. Before you can message someone using BBM, your friend must download the
application to a supported device and then invite you to be a contact. If
you would like a friend to join BBM, you can invite them using their email
address or mobile phone number. They will receive an invitation to download and
install the application from BlackBerry World, the App Store, or Google Play.
Can I use BBM to manage text messages?
No. This
feature is not available in BBM.
Can I have more than one BBM account?
No, you can
only have one BBM account on your device.
I lost my phone and have to switch to a new one. How can I access BBM?
When you downloaded BBM, the first time that you logged in, you were
prompted to create a BlackBerry ID. Your BBM contact list is backed up
using that BlackBerry ID. When you log into BBM using your BlackBerry ID on
your new device, your contact list is restored.
What is a BlackBerry ID?
A BlackBerry®
ID gives you access to BBM and any saved BBM data. After creating your
BlackBerry ID, you must confirm your account using the email that you receive
before you can use all of the features in BBM.
To view your current BlackBerry ID information, do the following:
1. Tap the Context Key > Settings.
After a certain amount of time, if you aren't actively using BBM, you might be
prompted to re-enter your BlackBerry ID password. If you want to sign in with a
different BlackBerry ID in BBM, you can reinstall BBM.
Note: You can also use a computer to create or edit your BlackBerry ID by
visiting www.blackberry.com/blackberryid.
Can I transfer the chats on my old phone to my new phone?
No. When you
upgrade to a new phone, you cannot transfer chats
Are my messages routed through Canada?
Depending on
where you are located, messages are routed through various data centers
worldwide
How can I stay up-to-date on the latest BBM news?
For the latest
news and information on BBM, visit www.bbm.com.
How do I remove or uninstall the BBM application?
Features
What is the difference between a broadcast message and a multi-person chat?
A broadcast message can be used to cascade a single message to multiple
users at once. When a broadcast message is sent, it does not open a chat for
each user or track the delivery status. A recipient knows they have received a
broadcast message because the text appears in blue. If you send a broadcast
message, any responses are sent to you only and not the entire audience of the
broadcast message.
The multi-person chat feature also allows you to cascade messages to multiple
users on your BBM contact list, but in a more interactive way. Responses
from participants in the group chat are visible to all members of the chat.
While the chat is active, you can also see as members of the chat leave.
Similar to broadcast messages, you cannot see when messages are delivered or
read.
Is BBM Video available on all platforms?
At this time BBM Video is only available for BlackBerry® 10 users.
For the latest news and information on BBM, including information on upcoming
availability of BBM Video, visit www.bbm.com.
Will BBM Channels be available?
At this time, BBM Channels is only available for BlackBerry users.
For the latest news and information on BBM, including information on upcoming
availability of BBM Channels, visit www.bbm.com
Can I restore conversations that I deleted?
In an active
chat, you can view messages that you sent and received by scrolling up. You can
also change your BBM options so that you can view your chat history with a
contact after you end the chat.
1. Tap the Context Key > Settings.
2. Set the Save Chat History switch to On.
If a chat window has been closed prior to enabling ‘Save Chat History’ you will
not be able to restore a conversation.
How do I use group chat?
To start a new group chat, select Groups along the bottom toolbar followed
select the group you would like to chat with. Tap Chats and you'll be able to
communicate with others within the group.
Setting up
How do I set up BBM?
After you download BBM from BlackBerry World, the App Store, or Google
Play, complete the setup wizard to start using BBM. As part of the setup,
you are prompted to create a BlackBerry ID or log in using an existing
BlackBerry ID. If you would like to set up a BlackBerry ID before you download
BBM, visit www.blackberry.com/blackberryid.
How do I set or update my profile picture?
Let your
contacts know what you're doing or share your mood by changing your BBM name,
status, or picture. If you have a status that you use often, such as a vacation
notice, you can save it to use again later.
1) Tap your picture or name.
2) Do any of the following:
• To change the name that your contacts see, tap your current name.
• To change your BBM picture, tap your current picture. Tap Replace picture.
Select a new picture or animated GIF to use as your BBM picture.
• In the what’s on your mind? field, type a status.
• To show an icon beside your name, or to show a custom status that you saved,
tap Status. Select a status that you want to display.
How can I add contacts or invite my friends to join BBM?
You can add
contacts to BBM by scanning a BBM barcode, typing a BBM PIN, or by selecting a
contact on your device.
You can also access your social network to find and invite contacts to
BBM.
How do I turn off auto correct?
Autocorrect is
a feature of your device’s operating system. For more information, see the user
guide for your smartphone.
BlackBerry ID
What is a BlackBerry ID?
A BlackBerry®
ID gives you access to BBM and any saved BBM data. After creating your
BlackBerry ID, you must confirm your account using the email that you receive
before you can use all of the features in BBM.
To view your current BlackBerry ID information, do the following:
1. Tap the Context Key > Settings
After a certain amount of time, if you aren't actively using BBM, you might be
prompted to re-enter your BlackBerry ID password. If you want to sign in with a
different BlackBerry ID in BBM, you can reinstall BBM.
Note: You can also use a computer to
create or edit your BlackBerry ID by visiting www.blackberry.com/blackberryid
How do I reset my BlackBerry ID password?
Visit
www.blackberry.com/blackberryid to reset your BlackBerry ID password.
How do I locate my BlackBerry ID username?
To view your
current BlackBerry ID information, do the following:
1. Tap the Context Key > Settings.
Your BlackBerry ID username will be the email address displayed.
If I create a new BlackBerry ID, can I transfer contacts from my previous
BlackBerry ID?
No, contacts cannot be transferred to a new BlackBerry ID. You must
re-invite your contacts to BBM if you log in with a different BlackBerry ID.
My BBM contacts
How can I add contacts or invite my friends to join BBM?
You can add
contacts to BBM by scanning a BBM barcode, typing a BBM PIN, or by selecting a
contact on your device.
You can also access your social network to find and invite contacts to
BBM.
I am a returning BBM user. How do I restore my contacts?
You may be able to restore your contacts if your BlackBerry ID was associated
with a BlackBerry smartphone running BBM 7.0 or later or if it was associated
with a supported iPhone or Android device running BBM. If you log into BBM
using that BlackBerry ID, you are prompted to restore your contacts.
Can I back up my contacts?
After you log into BBM using your BlackBerry ID, your contacts are backed
up automatically. If you log into BBM on a different device using the same
BlackBerry ID, you are prompted to restore your contacts. If you do switch
devices, any active chats are ended.
Can I rename my contacts?
You can view
additional information about contacts and groups, such as previous status
messages, from your BBM profile.
1. Touch and hold a name.
2. Tap View BBM Profile.
Tip: If you have a few contacts
using similar names, you can type a new name for the contact on this screen.
How do I delete contacts?
If you delete a
BBM contact, you're also removed from that person's contact list in BBM.
1. Touch and hold a name.
2. Tap Delete.
3. To prevent the person from being able to send you invitations in BBM,
select the Block Future Invitations checkbox.
4. Tap Delete.
What happens when I block someone?
If you choose to block contacts, they will no longer be able to send you
BBM messages. When you delete someone from your contact list, you can also
select the option to block future invitations.
How do I unblock someone?
To remove a
contact from your blocked list so that you can become contacts in BBM, do the
following:
1. Tap the Context Key > Settings.
2. Beside the Blocked Contacts field, tap Edit.
Can I tell if someone has blocked me on BBM?
No. You cannot tell if you’ve been blocked by someone on BBM. If your
contact remains in your contact list, your BBM message will not be delivered
Can I search for a friend using their name?
To search for contacts in your contact list, in the search box, just start
typing. Any contacts that you have invited to BBM appear. The search is based
on the display name that your BBM contact sets.
Can people see my email address and phone number?
Your BBM contacts will only be able to see the information that is in your
public profile. This information will include your PIN number, display name,
and display picture.
Will BBM read my device's contact list?
No. You can send invitations to your contacts to join BBM, but BBM does not
scan your contact list and send invites automatically.
BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android does not proceed past the “Setting up
BBM” screen
When attempting to launch or sign into BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android,
the application hangs on the Setting up BBM screen with a spinning
circle.
The date time, or year may be set incorrectly on the
iPhone or Android device and may be causing the
authentication process to fail.
Check the date, time, and year settings on the iPhone or Android device to
ensure that each is correct. To locate or modify these settings, see product
documentation or contact the manufacturer for assistance.
How to submit logs from BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android
BBM for iPhone and BBM for Android can submit logs
directly to BlackBerry Technical Support Services. To submit logs directly from
these applications, complete the following steps.
Note: In order to submit logs, an Incident ID number must first be provided by BlackBerry
Technical Support Services (for example, INC000012345678).
- Open BBM
for iPhone or BBM for Android.
- Tap the action menu button
(3 vertical dots).
- Tap Settings.
- Scroll down
and tap the Report a
Problem button.
- In the Incident ID field,
type the Incident ID number provided by BlackBerry
Technical Support Services.
- Tap the Upload to BlackBerry Support
button.
The Report a Problem function can also be triggered
from outside of BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android using the following
steps:
- Receive an
email with the link http://www.pin.bbm.com/support/report.
- Tap on the
link and select the option to open the link with the BBM application.
- Follow the
same steps used above to submit logs from within BBM for iPhone or
BBM for Android starting with Step 5.
Note: When
submitting logs to an existing Incident, the Incident ID can be added
to the link. For example, if the Incident ID is INC000012345678, the
following link would be used http://www.pin.bbm.com/support/report?wc=INC000012345678
Logs can also be sent as an email
attachment using the following steps:
- Open BBM for
iPhone or BBM for Android.
- Tap the action menu button (3
vertical dots).
- Tap Settings to access the
Settings menu
- Scroll down
and tap Report a Problem
button
- Tap on the Send Report Via Email
button
Invitations sent using the Invite by Email or Invite by SMS methods do not
display under the "Sent" tab in BBM for Android or BBM for iPhone
If an invitation to add a contact is sent via email or SMS within BBM
for iPhone or BBM for Android, the invitation is not listed
under Invites > Sent tab.
To locate the Sent invitations tab:
- Open
BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android.
- Tap the
tab menu button (3 horizontal lines) at
the bottom-left.
- Select
Invites > Sent tab
BBM Contacts are shown as "Typing" in the title bar of a group
chat even though they are no longer are typing
In a group chat, the title bar of
the other group chat members shows Typing:
followed by the name of the contacts believed to be typing, even though the
contacts are in fact no longer typing.
This occurs when one or more contacts in the BBM group chat compose a message
and then delete the message instead of sending it.
This is a previously reported
issue that is being investigated by our development team. No resolution time
frame is currently available.
When inviting a new contact using BBM for iPhone via the Invite by Email or
Invite by SMS method there is no option to manually enter an email address or
phone number
When attempting to add a
contact using BBM for iPhone with either an email
address or SMS, the user is directed to the Contacts app to select a
contact, however, the option to manually enter the information is not
available.
This is a previously reported issue that is
being investigated by our development team. No resolution time frame is
currently available.
First add the other party's details
under the Contacts app on the iPhone (including email address and/or phone
number), then invite the contact by email or SMS using BBM for iPhone.
Alternatively, if you do not
wish to add the person's details to the Contacts
app, instead, select an existing contact (not the person
the invitation is actually intended for). Once selected, remove
the chosen contact and add the details for the person
which the invitation is actually intended for.
How to invite a new contact using BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android
There are four methods to invite someone to as a BBM contact using BBM
for iPhone or BBM for Android. All methods can be accessed by completing the
following steps:
Open
BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android and tap the action menu button (3
vertical dots)
Tap Invite
to BBM and choosing the desired invite method:
o
Invite by Barcode - This method requires both
parties to have BBM already installed. One person will tap Invite by Barcode,
the other will tap Show My Barcode and scanning the barcode completes
the invite process.
o
Invite by PIN - This method requires both
parties to have BBM already installed and one person's PIN. One person will
select Invite by PIN, enter the PIN, and tap Send.
o
Invite by Email - This method will send an
email message to the person which contains a link to either install BBM or
initiate an invite back to the requester (see below for specific instructions).
o
Invite by SMS - This method will send an
SMS message to the person which contains a link to either install BBM or
initiate an invite back to the requester (see below for specific instructions).
Invite by Email or SMS using BBM for Android:
Initiating Invite:
- Open
BBM for Android.
- Tap
the action menu button > Invite to BBM > Invite by
Email or SMS
- Enter
the desired email address or mobile phone number and tap Send.
Completing Invite:
- Locate
the email or SMS message with the subject BBM Invitation from BBM
User.
- Select
the www.pin.bbm.com/PIN link within the message.
- If
BBM is not already installed, open the link via the browser and there will
be a prompt to download and install BBM. Once installed, select the above
link again and open the link via BBM to complete the invite process.
- If
BBM is already installed select the link and open the link via BBM to
complete the invite process
Invite by Email or SMS using BBM for iPhone:
Initiating Invite:
- Open
BBM for iPhone.
- Tap
the action menu button > Invite to BBM > Invite by
Email or SMS.
- Enter
the desired email address or mobile phone number and tap Send.
Completing Invite:
- Locate
the email or SMS message with the subject BBM Invitation from BBM
User.
- Select
the www.pin.bbm.com/PIN link within the message.
- If
BBM is not already installed, open the link and there will be a prompt to
download and install BBM. Once installed, select the above link again and
open the link via BBM to complete the invite process.
How to change or update the BlackBerry ID Username in BBM for iPhone or BBM
for Android
Follow the steps below to
change the BlackBerry ID Username in BBM for
Android or BBM for iPhone.
Note: Completing the following steps
only changes the email address (Username) of the BlackBerry ID
account.
Using BBM for iPhone:
- Open BBM
for iPhone and tap the action menu button (3 vertical dots).
- Tap Settings
and tap the BlackBerry ID email address.
- Enter the
BlackBerry ID Password
and tap Go or Sign In
- Tap Edit
Account Information and locate the BlackBerry ID Username
field.
- Remove the
current Username
and replace it with a new Username
(email address) that is not already associated to any other BlackBerry ID,
then tap Go or Save.
- Scroll to
the bottom of the Account
Information screen and tap the Done button.
- Tap the Back
button to exit Settings.
Using BBM for Android:
- Open BBM for
Android and tap the action
menu button (3 vertical dots).
- Tap Settings and tap
the arrow icon
next to the BlackBerry ID email address.
- Enter the
BlackBerry ID password and tap Go
or Sign In.
- Tap Edit Account Information
and locate the BlackBerry
ID Username field.
- Remove the
current Username
and replace it with a new Username
(email address) that is not already associated to any other BlackBerry ID,
then tap Go or Save.
- Scroll to
the bottom of the Account
Information screen and tap the Done button.
- Tap the Back
button to exit Settings.
Note: Moving forward, use the new email
address when signing into BlackBerry ID
Good to Know
How to create a
BlackBerry ID
2. Click Create a BlackBerry ID
Online.
3. Complete the instructions on
the screen. The mandatory fields include a username (which is an email
address), password, screen name, password recovery question, and password
recovery answer.
4. Click Save.
After you have finished setting up a BlackBerry ID
using your computer, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address
that you used as your BlackBerry ID username. It's important to verify your
BlackBerry ID using the link in the confirmation email because you must have a
verified email address in order to recover your password in the future.
How to confirm a
BlackBerry ID account
To confirm the email address
associated to the BlackBerry ID account, complete the following:
- Visit www.blackberry.com/blackberryid from any
browser.
- Select Sign in.
- Enter the
BlackBerry ID Username (email address)
and Password,
then click Sign In.
- Select Account Details.
- Under Email Status select the Confirm my email link
and then OK.
- Log in
to the email account and access the email from donotreply@blackberry.com
with a subject of Confirm
your BlackBerry ID email address.
- Within the
email select the confirm
your email address link.
- Enter
the BlackBerry ID password
and select Submit.
- When
completed, Thank you for
confirming your BlackBerry ID is displayed.
How to reset the
BlackBerry ID account on BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android if the Password
Recovery Answer is unknown
If unable to reset the
BlackBerry ID account password because the password recovery question is not
known a reset of the BlackBerry ID
account can be completed.
Warning: Completing a BlackBerry ID reset is an
irreversible action and should only be completed as a final troubleshooting
step in order to create a new BlackBerry ID account using the same
email address. Completing a BlackBerry ID reset will remove
any currently associated data such as BBM contacts.
Note: The email address inbox used as the
BlackBerry ID username must be accessible in order to
complete a reset of the BlackBerry ID account.
To complete a reset of the
BlackBerry ID account, complete the following steps:
- From the
BlackBerry ID Sign In screen
on BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android,
select Forgot Password.
- Enter the BlackBerry ID Username, Verification Code and
select Submit.
- After two
failed attempts to answer the Password Recovery Question, a Reset
BlackBerry ID Account link will be displayed.
- Tap the
Reset BlackBerry ID Account link.
- Review the
displayed text and tap Send/Submit to receive an email to
complete the BlackBerry ID account reset.
- Access the
associated mailbox from the iPhone, Android device, or computer browser
and locate the email.
- Select
the Reset BlackBerry
ID Account link.
- Select Continue
to complete the reset of the BlackBerry ID account.
To create a new BlackBerry ID
account, complete the following steps:
Note: In some scenarios, the BlackBerry ID Username, Password Recovery Question, and Password Recovery Answer will
be populated, but can be changed during the creation process.
- Open the BBM for iPhone or BBM for Android
application and select Create
a BlackBerry ID.
- Enter all of
the required information, such as BlackBerry ID username, Password and
Password Recovery Question/Answer.
- Accept the Terms
of Service, Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, then select Create.
- This will
complete the BlackBerry ID creation and Setting up BBM will be
displayed
Resetting the
BlackBerry ID password using the password recovery question for BBM for iPhone
or BBM for Android
