Research In Motion (RIM) has quietly removed a popular, cross-platform IM application, Kik Messenger for BlackBerry, from its BlackBerry App World mobile-software shop. Kik, the company that develops the app for BlackBerry, Android and iPhone also ceased offering downloads for BlackBerry smartphones on Friday, but the Kik messaging client is still available for Android and iPhone devices.
Message from Kik to BlackBerry Users Kik is very much like RIM’s BlackBerry-specific BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) IM client in that it’s a chat app that allows for near-instant communication with other Kik users and provides message-delivered and read-message receipts. But it differs in that any BlackBerry, iPhone or Android user can communication with any other Kik users regardless of their mobile platform. BBM is only for BlackBerry. As for the “official” reasons why Kik was removed from App World and Kik’s own website, RIM and Kik offer different explanations, raising questions about the true motives behind the companies’ move to kill Kik Messenger for BlackBerry–at least for the time being. From Kik’s official blog : “The flood of new Kik users has placed an overwhelming strain on system resources, so new downloads of Kik Messenger for BlackBerry devices have been temporarily suspended. Kik Messenger service for all existing users, including BlackBerry users, is unaffected, as are new downloads to iPhone and Android devices….If you are a BlackBerry user seeking to download Kik, we apologize for the delay and thank you for your patience. We look forward to welcoming you as new Kiksters as soon as possible.” In other words, too many BlackBerry users were downloading the app and Kik’s servers couldn’t handle the strain, so the company pulled the app…but only for BlackBerry. However, it stands to reason that just as many iPhone and/or Android users were also downloading then app, so why remove only the BlackBerry app? I’ve reached out to Kik for further explanation, but have not yet received a response. And here’s RIM’s statement on the Kik removal, which seems to differ quite a bit from Kik’s: “RIM became aware of a number of issues and customer concerns regarding the Kik app and service and, following discussions with Kik, the app was removed from BlackBerry App World. RIM is actively reviewing the issues and potential resolutions, and is also continuing its discussions with Kik.” This information makes it seem like the Kik app violated some aspect of RIM’s BlackBerry App World terms of service or other legal agreement between it and developers, so RIM went ahead and pulled it. Rumors bouncing around the Web suggest Kik may have been pulled for being too resource intensive and a battery-hog, but I’ve been using the app for a week or so and I haven’t noticed any serious issues. Another rumor says Kik was pulled from App World due to a feature that pre-populated users’ Kik contact lists with information stored on users’ devices, without first getting permission from those users’ to do, which could also constitute some sort of violation of the App World developer terms. So both companies are giving different reasons for why Kik Messenger for BlackBerry is no longer available. And though both reasons could be valid, I suspect there’s more to this situation than meets the eye. RIM could be anxious to find any reason at all to slow the growth of cross-platform IM applications like Kik, which has seen massive uptake in recent days, since such apps could potentially represent a threat to BBM, RIM’s “golden child” at the moment and one of the company’s competitive advantages over other rivals in the mobile space. It seems strange to me that RIM and Kik would pull the app from their respective websites right around the same time if the moves weren’t related. And yet both companies have offered different reasons for doing so. RIM and Kik say they’re working to make Kik Messenger for BlackBerry available once again, and the app could be returned to App World at any point. But one thing is for certain: RIM sees BBM as a very valuable asset to the BlackBerry platform, and though it can’t stop all such applications from being distributed through its own software channels–other apps like Kik are still available in App World including, PingChat! and WhatsApp –it could attempt to slow the growth of such apps by jumping on any and all possible excuses to make it more difficult for BlackBerry users to find and employ them. AS Al Sacco covers Mobile and Wireless for CIO.com. Follow Al on Twitter @ASacco . Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline . Email Al at ASacco@CIO.com.
Al Sacco was a journalist, blogger and editor who covers the fast-paced mobile beat for CIO.com and IDG Enterprise, with a focus on wearable tech, smartphones and tablet PCs. Al managed CIO.com writers and contributors, covered news, and shared insightful expert analysis of key industry happenings. He also wrote a wide variety of tutorials and how-tos to help readers get the most out of their gadgets, and regularly offered up recommendations on software for a number of mobile platforms. Al resides in Boston and is a passionate reader, traveler, beer lover, film buff and Red Sox fan.
