BlackBerry updated its messaging app BBM with “enhanced privacy and control features” to give users “full ownership over what they share through BBM – even after it leaves their phone”.

Users will now be able to retract messages (delete sent messages from the recipient’s device) and control how long their contacts can view messages or location information. These features were previously only available as part of a BBM subscription.

“Building on the renowned immediacy, reliability and security inherent to BBM, the new release provides unmatched level of privacy and control to BBM users without any subscription fees,” said Matthew Talbot, SVP, BBM.

Users will also have access to private chat, which removes names and avatars from the chat window, and the ability to edit sent messages. Other features include improved voice call quality, and added support for Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).

Facebook
After saying last month that it was “extremely disappointed” Facebook had ended support for its platforms, Lou Gazzola, lead app ecosystem and developer outreach team, wrote in a blog post that “Facebook will continue to support BlackBerry 10 and BBOS. The experience will be slightly different, but you’ll still get the same Facebook features you love”.

“Our fans are fighting for us (#WeAreBlackBerry), and we love their support (#ILoveBB10Apps). That’s why we have worked hard with Facebook to address some technical challenges and the best solution was to move forward with a web-based app,” he added.

However, this does not mean that an updated native Facebook app is on the way for BlackBerry 10. Instead, the company is offering a web app, which does not include some of the core features available previously – such as BlackBerry Hub integration.