While it’s still in private beta (which means you can’t get it unless you’re on the beta testing team), it’s clear that BlackBerry is taking its BlackBerry Messenger for Windows Phone application very seriously.
In its first release for the OS, BlackBerry says it is “focused on introducing Windows Phone users to the power of sharing experiences in the moment through the immediacy and privacy offered by BBM.” This, of course, includes BBM Chats, through which users will be able to share text and picture messages, voice notes, contacts, and locations.
BBM Voice, stickers, Channels, and Glympse location sharing available “in months ahead”
BBM Groups will also make an appearance in the app as expected, which enables you to chat with up to 50 friends in a private chat. Photo sharing will be included for groups as will broadcast messages, similar to Facebook’s status updates.
While BBM Voice, BBM stickers, and BBM Channels won’t make it to the initial release, BlackBerry says it plans to add these and location sharing from Glympse “in the months ahead.”
If you’re tired of waiting, don’t worry, as BlackBerry is also planning an external beta in which users can experience BBM in the modern interface for the first time and report any bugs you might find as well as participate in surveys and provide feedback. You can sign up for the beta via BlackBerry’s website or simply glimpse at the BBM internal beta and wait for the official release.