Whats the Next South African Youth Phone ?

Photo Credit - Adhik Jaichun

For the past few years Blackberrys have dominated the cellular youth market. They were bulky, slow and very ugly but people still chose to buy them as:

• Blackberrys were fairly cheap with the entry-level model (The Curve 8520.) selling at R1800.
• BBM (Blackberry Messaging) was a convenient and affordable way of messaging others. 
• BIS (Blackberry Internet Service.) provided cheap internet connections for R59/ month. 

As a result of the above , Blackberrys prospered. While technology became more advanced leaving Blackberry and its users in the dust. With the decline of Blackberry and BIS, many South African Teens scramble to find a replacement for their old blackberries.' Fear not, thats what im here for!'

The key here is not only to find a replacement for your old blackberry but something that is much better  yet has the convenience and affordability that Blackberry was crowned for.  When choosing you next phone you should take note of your distinct interests and features that you depend on or want in your everyday life . 

Facebook Home

Photo Credit - Techno Buffalo

This is a fairly new software from Facebook designed specifically for Android Phones. Android Phones are phones that run Android OS (A Google Designed operating System) they include the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC one etc. The good thing about Facebook Home is that you can run it on any Android phone running OS 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and higher, this means that people can chose to spend less on a phone and buy a entry-level device or buy a high-end flagship device (like the S4.) Facebook home incorporates Facebook into your phone to show your updates and messages once you unlock your phone - A feature that allows instant social access that is a swipe away. Facebook Home allows the Social aspect that your blackberry offered allowing you to social quickly and easily. Facebook Home runs all of the Android Apps including apps like Angry Birds, Subway Surfers and BBM (available by the end of July.) An amazing thing is that you can switch back to the traditional Android software set on your phone from Facebook Home. PLEASE NOTE : Facebook Home is an additional software overlay or Launcher and is available on the Play store. It doesn't come pre-loaded on the phones mentioned below (Accept on the HTC First.) 

Good Examples of These are : 

HTC First 

Samsung Galaxy S4

HTC One

Nexus 4

iPhone 

photo Credit - BGR

Although this option may not be as affordable as the Blackberry its simple and fantastic. I think the iPhone is the best phone for South African Youth. its easy to use , there are millions of apps to suite your needs and most importantly stylish. Teens can make use of the iPhones vast accessory line to personalize their phone. Socialize using iMessages. Apple's exclusive messaging network , BBM (available on the App Store by the end of July.) and Whatsapp and Viber ( a free messaging and call app.) Right now would be a good time to buy the iPhone especially after the launch of Apples new Mobile Software iOS7!  The iPhone 5

I hope this entry helped decide which phone to look out for. Make sure to read the Reviews and subscribe for more amazing and in-depth entries! 

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A Multi-platform BBM (Blackberry Messaging) : The Full Story

Have you ever dreamt of BBM, Blackberry's exclusive messaging service, on your iPhone or Android Phone?  - Well the reality is , you probably haven't. Slow messages, annoying Broadcast messages and a shorter battery life as a result are all problems that i've experienced when using BBM. The fact is the majority of tech-users are and will use Whatsapp (or other messaging platforms) on their iPhones or android phones and even if they moved to a blackberry, I'm sure they'd still use Whatsapp over BBM. 

(Photo Credit : Elie Chahine's Blog.)

Why I don't like BBM!

Below are the reason why I seriously don't like BBM and why id much rather use Whatsapp. 

• BBM is slow and often doesn't work at random times ( when you need it the most.)
• The Broadcast Message - Yes, if you've had BBM you'd definitely know what im saying. Those irritating messages from people who have nothing to do. For people who don't know what they are - They are Messages that are sent from one of your friends to all of their contacts and often        sound like this ... "Happy Mother's Day - if you don't Broadcast this message in 20 seconds, something bad is going to happen to your mother." or the all common , "Blackberry is shutting down users profiles at 12:00 AM , if you don't broadcast this code, your phone will fail to work. This is a serious note from the CEO of Blackberry, John Blackberry." I don't know why people Broadcast these stupid messages, but then again, they did buy blackberries! 
• The overall performance of your Blackberry. When you have ± 300 contacts on BBM, your blackberry becomes really slow overall and often it freezes and restarts while you using the phone however this shouldn't be a problem with the Q10 or Z10. The slower processor on the Q5 may be affected. 
• The horrible Battery life, this is as a result of your contacts updating their profile pictures and statuses as well as sending and receiving messages. Your battery can go from lasting a day with medium use but with BBM disabled to a matter of hours with the same use and BBM running in the background.   

Multi-Platform

Blackberry is to release BBM as an App available for : 

• iPhones (iPhone 4 , 4S and 5.) running iOS 6
• Android Phones (Running 4.2) 

Once launched you will be able to download it off the App Store / Play Store and use it just like on a Blackberry 10 device however features will be updated on Blackberry 10 devices before it is updated on the application. The App will be Free of charge! 

Why does Blackberry want to release it as a Multi- platform Messaging Service? 

I should actually rephrase that heading and rather ask - Why does Blackberry NEED to release it as Multi-platform Messaging Service? Well with Blackberry (formerly known as RIM, which I called RIP.)  under piles of debts and Blackberry 10 showing to be less successful than blackberry anticipated,   A Multi-platform BBM will not only Boost sales of Blackberrys but will give Blackberry the opportunity to sell Ads on the iPhone and Android version of the Messaging service. A Multi-platform BBM could also give Blackberry much needed recognition and exposure, which I think is all Blackberry needs right now.  (Photo Credit - Business insider.)

PROs

• Better exposure for Blackberry 
• Advertising. Which could in essence Keep BBM alive even after Blackberry itself is dead. 
• A boost is sales of Blackberrys as more people have BBM and BBM therefore is more efficient and useful to the consumer.  
• cheaper than Whatsapp. Free compared to $0.99 / year. 

CONs

• BBM will no longer be exclusive to Blackberry Owners hence people who bought Blackberry's in the past solely for BBM, might not buy Blackberry's now. 
• There are bound to be more users and more users means slower messages. 
• Blackberry Software programmers and designers have to spend time writing the Android and iPhone Apps when they could be spending that time bettering Blackberry 10, and it needs ALOT of bettering to gain market share!

Tell me what you think Tweet using #iBBM for a chance to be followed and re-tweeted by us!  

Conclusion 

Although bold, I think this move of releasing BBM as a Multi-platform messaging service will definitely pay off in the long-run with more exposure for Blackberry. The idea has potential but the execution is what im waiting to see. Will Blackberry successfully recreate itself or will 10 be Blackberry's unlucky number... 

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