"It's important to remember that two decades ago, text messages cost 10 cents. Each. Back when we measured our cell phone plans in minutes, and when even 3G connections felt fast, text messages were a huge business for wireless carriers and a huge expense for anyone whose kids learned to T9-type just a little too quickly. Then BlackBerry, nearing the peak of its powers, did something remarkable: it cut the carriers out entirely."
"In this episode of Version History, our new show about the most important products in tech history, we dig into how BBM happened, and why it ultimately lost the messaging wars. David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Joanna Stern reminisce about their BBM experiences - including Joanna explaining why she loved and used BBM way longer than it was appropriate to love and use BBM - before going through the app's full history and legacy."
Two decades ago, text messages cost about 10 cents each and mobile plans were measured in minutes, making SMS a major revenue source for carriers and a substantial expense for users. BlackBerry introduced BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), a service that bypassed carriers and delivered instant device-to-device messaging. BBM preceded services like WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, and RCS and changed expectations about mobile communication and cost. Many users adopted BBM widely and continued using it long after competitors emerged. Despite pioneering features and influencing later platforms, BBM ultimately lost the broader messaging market while leaving a technological and cultural legacy.
Read at The Verge
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