Canada-based software company BlackBerry Limited has officially launched BBM Enterprise (BBMe) – an alternate version of its popular BlackBerry Messenger messaging app intended primarily for corporate use.

The news comes on the heels of the company’s announcement that it would end its BBM consumer service on May 31. 

BlackBerry chief marketing officer Mark Wilson said the company had decided to roll out the new app out of respect for loyal BBM users who might have been disappointed by the discontinuation of the original app.

“Following thorough consideration, we have decided that loyal BBM users deserve a secure and reliable messaging service,” Wilson said in a statement. 

Read also: BlackBerry Messenger to shut down on May 31

BBMe is now available to download on the Google Play Store. The iOS version is still forthcoming, the company said. 

Users may use the new enterprise version of BBM for free for a year. Afterward, users have to pay a subscription fee of US$2.49 per six months. 

BBMe boasts a host of tighter security measures than those found in its original iteration, including end-to-end encryption. The company also said BBMe would not monetize user data or track users’ location as an effort to prioritize privacy. 

The new messaging app allows users to start group conversations, as well as voice and video calls. It gives them the ability to edit, delete, or schedule the expiry of their messages. (rfa/wng)