Spinning off BBM as a separate division was a good move by BlackBerry, it enabled the cross-platform instant messenger to quickly expand its user base and also receive innovative new features that were previously not available. It already facilities instant mobile payments through BBM Money and even has the option to send prepaid mobile credit in certain markets. Soon BBM users will be able to send money to each other through PayPal.
BlackBerry has teamed up with PayPal to make sending money through BBM Chats much easier, all users have to do is connect their PayPal account to BBM and once their contacts do the same they can start sending and receiving money instantly.
The feature is available in the external beta version of BBM that’s rolling out on BlackBerry, iOS and Android in Canada today and will be made available to users in other regions across the globe within the next few weeks.
Users can only send money to those contacts that also have their PayPal hooked up to BBM, it’s not possible to send money to someone that hasn’t connected their PayPal account to BlackBerry Messenger.
The money transfer happens through BBM so users don’t need to have the PayPal app on their device, though one can hardly imagine people will download BBM for the express purpose of sending money to friends and family.
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