BlackBerry updated its BBM messaging app for Android and iOS, with the addition of the BBM Voice support and BBM Channels for brands.

BBM Voice allows users to make free calls to BBM contacts over Wi-Fi or a mobile data connection.

BBM Channels, meanwhile, provides a way for users to interact with brands, communities and celebrities with profiles on the BBM platform. Users can also create their own channel to share their interests.

Other additions include one-click sharing (for photos, documents and voice notes), the integration of Dropbox storage, and location sharing.

Andrew Bocking, the executive VP of the BBM messaging service, left BlackBerry this week, with the product moving to the company’s Global Enterprise Solutions division – suggesting BlackBerry is trying to align the messaging service more with its enterprise focus.

The company said the BBM organisation will continue to focus on messaging, as well as “new areas of strength such as mobile marketing, community-building and enterprise messaging”.

The ailing Canadian vendor launched BBM for iOS and Android in October 2013, seeing 20 million downloads in the first week of availability to reach 80 million monthly active users.