BBM to evolve into interest based mobile social network through Channels

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

With 80 million worldwide users, BlackBerrys now cross-platform BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) is evolving into its own social engagement platform within BBM. BBM Channels is expected to come out of beta testing and will offer BlackBerry users the opportunity to create their own personal or brand channels. Interested followers can subscribe to these channels much like how people follow others on Facebook or on Twitter. BBM Channels can be verified so as to avoid fakes and channels can be set up for specific events like concerts, sporting events and conferences. This allows for focused, user-targeted and noise-free communications.

BlackBerry OS 5 and above and BlackBerry 10 through BlackBerry World. BlackBerry users can simply update to the newest version of BBM to have access to the BBM Channels beta when it becomes available later today.

Update on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 1:16PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Some sources say the BBM Channels feature will rollout in updates to the BBM app starting 3 PM Eastern Today.

Native Google Play app heading to BlackBerry 10?

It's no secret that those on BlackBerry 10 have taken to sideloading Android apps onto their BlackBerry 10 devices to fill the app void. Sheesh, one of the first things I did when I started using my Z30 was sideload Instagram onto it! Well, we have some good news care of a few leaked images that turned up in CrackBerry forums earlier: images of Google's PlayStore running natively on a BlackBerry 10 device. 

Say it ain't so? Could an influx of apps be coming to the little ecosystem that could? Highly unlikely. Word that came with the image above is that the next iteration of BB10, BB10.2, could come with the Google Play store as a native app. 

Or this could be a clever sideload job to trick everyone. No comment from Google or BlackBerry, yet, but that doesn't mean they don't intend on commenting either.

Stay tuned...

via [CrackBerry forums]

Thorsten Heins out as BlackBerry President & CEO

By Corey Herscu

(Pictured above: Now former BlackBerry President and CEO, Thorsten Heins (right) and Rogers President and CEO, Nadir Mohamed (left) at the Rogers launch of the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone)

Today did not turn out, at all, how anyone would have expected. On the morning that many anticipated Waterloo-based BlackBerry Ltd. would accept the nine-dollar-per-share Fairfax offer, something else happened: a very public corporate shakeup. On the chopping block? BlackBerry President and CEO Thorsten Heins. 

According to reports from the Globe and Mail, BlackBerry has officially axed Thorsten Heins, a few of it's directors, and will be shuffling its board a bit.

Further, after searching for months to find a suitor, BlackBerry has apparently declared that they’ve abandoned their plans to sell, specifically the $4.7-billion with Fairfax Financial, and will forge ahead in the smartphone and OS race will plans to raise $1 billion in funding.

Who saw this coming? Stay tuned for more....

via The Globe

Contest: Win 1 of 2 BlackBerry Q10's from BlackBerry and Canadian Reviewer

By Corey Herscu

BlackBerry has been taking a lot of flack lately. A lot. Botched product launches, missed release dates, and increasing scrutiny on their future; it's enough to annoy anyone, and rightfully so. 

But there are always two sides to every story. What many don't realize is that until the 'closed' sign formally appears on the doors of BlackBerry's offices in Waterloo the company continues to operate valiantly.

Despite all the negativity, there are still hundreds of dedicated employees going to work everyday hustling along towards a common goal: giving BlackBerry the second wind it so rightfully deserves.

So, over the last few weeks, I have been pondering what we at CanadianReviewer.com can do to lift people's spirits; aside from the  positive vibes and happy sentiments I try to put out through our own social channels. Then it hit me: why not run a contest? 

Rather than giving away a shiny new Android device to use BBM on, let's focus on one of the best devices to ever come out of Waterloo: the kickass QWERTY-featured BlackBerry Q10! Powered by BlackBerry 10.1 out of box (and 10.2 now available for update), the Q10 combines the award-winning functionality of all-things BlackBerry, with, of course, BBM the way it was meant to be: BBM voice, BBM video, BBM channels, etc. not the scaled down version now available on Android and iOS.

For our lucky readers, we have two to giveaway!

Here is how you can win:

1. Leave a comment on the blog stating your favorite thing about BlackBerry. Get creative. We read every single comment. 

2. Tweet out "I want to win a #BlackBerryQ10 from @BlackBerry and @CReviewer"

3. Must follow @CReviewer on Twitter and Like us on Facebook

4. That's it. That's really all. 

This contest is open for one week and available to anyone in North America. We will announce the winners next Friday November 1.

Two winners will be chosen at random via tweets/comments/likes. Duplicate entries will be voided.

Good luck to all who enter!