BlackBerry to bring BBM to Windows Phone and Nokia X Android platform

Firm aims to increase user base after WhatsApp deal last week

BlackBerry has announced that its popular BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) platform will be made available for Windows Phone in the coming months.

No date was announced but the move will be welcomed by those on Microsoft's platform as users on iOS and Android have flocked to download the app since it was made available.

BlackBerry also announced that it would be bringing the service to the new Nokia X Android platform used by Nokia for its new X, X+ and XL smartphones, which were unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) on Monday

John Sims, president of Global Enterprise Solutions at BlackBerry, said the move to bring BBM to other platforms was key for the company's future

"BBM continues to grow in popularity as millions of people use our mobile platform for chatting and connecting with friends or colleagues, and we are very excited that we will soon welcome Windows Phone and Nokia X users to the BBM community," he said.

Bringing the service to both Windows Phone and Nokia's Android platform for its new devices will be a big boost for the Finnish firm, as both its major operating systems will boast a key messaging app.

Bryan Biniak, general manager of Developer Relations at Nokia, said: "By bringing BBM to the Windows Phone and Nokia X communities, our customers will be able to experience this popular global messaging app."

The importance of messenger apps was underlined last week when Facebook paid a staggering $19bn for WhatsApp in order to increase its user base and tap into emerging markets where the platform is favoured over traditional text messaging and calls.