BlackBerry Messenger, also known as BBM, is a proprietary internet-based PIN instant messenger and video-telephony application included on BlackBerry devices that allows messaging and voice-calls between BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone and Android users.
September 2014, BBM announced the official launch of its BBM Money. BBM Money is a mobile wallet service that allows people to send money to their BBM contacts, top-up mobile airtime accounts, and pay bills. Jointly developed with Monitise Indonesia and PermataBank, BBM Money leverages BlackBerry’s legacy in security and privacy, using passcodes and encryption to achieve bank-grade security.
Over the past year, BBM has introduced many new features in the secure mobile payment category, with no signs of slowing down. For example, instant mobile payments through BBM Money as well as the option to send prepaid mobile credit are just two of the mobile payment options BBM users have access to.
If you remember, PayPal officially became available in Nigeria on Tuesday, June 17, 2014. For those who have absolute no idea of what ‘Paypal’ is in the first place, here is a brief summary: PayPal Holdings, Inc. is an American company operating a worldwide online payments system. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to traditional paper methods like checks and money orders. PayPal is one of the world’s largest internet payment companies. The company operates as an acquirer, performing payment processing for online vendors, auction sites and other commercial users, for which it charges a fee.
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has wide appeal, and new BBM Money updates have given BBM users on iOS, Android and BlackBerry 10 the ability to pay for goods and services online and in stores, regardless of who they bank with. With PayPal, you can do a lot of things send and receive money at your convenience. The good news is, you can now send and receive money on PayPal through BBM, which I think is absolutely amazing!
On the 12
th of August 2015, Paypal posted about their partnership with BBM Money on their website, saying “We are delighted to announce that we are teaming up with BBM to bring peer-to-peer (P2P) payments where the conversation is already happening – in your BBM chats. Starting today, select users in Canada on BlackBerry 10, Android and iOS phones can send money securely with PayPal straight from their BBM app. Just connect your PayPal account to your BBM. Once your family member or friend does the same, you can start sending money–it’s that simple”.
BBM is definitely not the only messaging app trying to get its foot in the e-commerce door. Facebook Messenger’s payment system is an example of other attempts to bring mobile payments to the social realm. But with the local merchants already using BBM to conduct a lot of communication and business dealings, BBM Money definitely has a good chance of becoming one of Nigeria’s biggest players in e-payment platforms.
This really is an awesome development and with Paypal’s not too recent launch in Nigeria, we are hopeful that this partnership will extend to Nigeria in the near future.
About the Writer: Eniola Adeniji is a woman after God’s own heart, a motivational Writer, Speaker, Fashion and Photography addict. She is also a Business Developer, Social Media Manager and the founder of Woman Of Value. She blogs at
ennmae.wordpress.com
