BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Android and iOS is off to a strong start as the company announced the app has notched more than 10 million downloads in the first 24 hours. 
The demand for the cross-platform version of BlackBerry’s popular messaging feature has resulted in a waiting list.
BBM for Android and iOS was announced months ago and the expected release date in September was pushed back to give BlackBerry more time to support the demand. BlackBerry said it saw nearly one million people download an unreleased version of BBM and six million people pre-register for the official versions.
BlackBerry is promising to bring BBM Video, BBM Voice and BBM Channels to Android and iPhone customers as well. The company is also hinting at new features that will “build on BBM as the private social network you count on for immediate conversations you can control and trust.”
The demand for BBM comes as a welcome bright spot for BlackBerry amid much turmoil for the struggling OEM. In the wake of huge quarterly losses and more layoffs, BlackBerry has been the focus of numerous acquisition talks from both suitors that want to take the company private and potential buyers interested in bits and pieces of the company. As of now, BlackBerry has tentatively agreed to a $4.7 billion buyout offer from Fairfax Financial.
