BBM update brings Voice, chat Channels to iOS, Android and BlackBerry

BlackBerry Messenger’s getting a nifty update today in the form of BBM Voice and Channels: Voice will let BBM users talk to each other over WiFi or 3G, while BBM Channels are like chat groups from the nineties, whereby anyone can now form topic channels for users to join says BlackBerry.

But wait, there’s always more: the BBM update now has “fast one-click sharing of photos, documents, voice notes”, timed location sharing care of Glympse (share a location with friends, which when the time runs out, vanishes from the chat) and grandest of all, over 100 new emoticons. Feelings, rejoice. BlackBerry seemed to crowdsource the new emoticons, as it says that most of them came from ideas submitted by customers.

Blackberry Global Enterprise Solutions prez John Sims chimes in. 

BBM continues to deliver new functionality as a premier messaging platform that provides a simple and effective way to stay connected. Today’s announcement gives Android and iPhone customers the rich experience of BBM Voice and BBM Channels – two great ways to connect with friends, family and colleagues, to build out communities around shared interests, and to follow your favorite people and brands BBM continues to quickly evolve as a social mobile platform for consumers as well as for business customers through innovative features that give you great new ways to connect and share with each other.

We checked our Android, iOS and BlackBerry phones. The update has yet to hit, but we’re sure it’s happening soon.