Now that BlackBerry has released BBM for Android and iOS platforms, it faces direct competition from the reigning messaging app, WhatsApp. We put both these apps head-to-head, for a quick comparison.
Both the apps have a provision to add a profile picture, and add a status update. There are some default statuses available in WhatsApp, like Available, Busy, At school, At the movies, and so on. With BBM, you have an additional option of busy icon alongside linking the profile with apps. This means you can add your favorite game score or the latest number you are listening to, as your profile status. The PING option in BBM is helpful, especially if message receipt is set on silent profile. When you PING someone, the vibration is loud enough to be heard. This option is similar to the buzz option in Yahoo messenger.
Payment Option
When it comes to payment options, WhatsApp offers one year of free service and charges US $0.99 for one year of service after the free service expiry. BlackBerry offers free lifetime BBM service for Android and iOS users as well.
What Works and What Doesn't
WhatsApp is used by almost every second person I know. This means, I can get in touch with all my friends, who are added in my address book. This truly helped me connect with some long-lost friends. However, the flip side of this is the constant messages from people whom I don't want to stay in touch with. And even strangers can contact me, by using my phone number. I am only left with the 'blocking contact' option in this case.
What works for BBM is its secure operation. You are the one who decides which contact can send messages to you and who cannot. Of course, blocking contacts option is available on both platforms, but sorting this thing out even before you receive messages is a safer bet. However, what goes against installing BBM is its battery drain operation. I ran out of my phone's battery within no time when I installed BBM. I was forced to stop running the app, to save the remaining battery.
There are a lot of features that makes WhatsApp the better IM, out of the two. Having said that, a lot of users out there had a nostalgia trip when they downloaded BBM on their Android and iOS devices. Only time will tell if BBM can revive the old magic that it had cast on its BlackBerry users. For now, my vote goes to WhatsApp for its easy operation and popularity. At least I don't have to search and add my friends on this platform, unlike BBM where I had to share my PIN and send invitations to all my friends. I am counting on WhatsApp to maintain its supremacy in the IM market.
