The Blackberry: From Business Phones to UK mania The rise of Blackberry among UK teens, transforming it from a business tool to a everyone’s favourite phone! BBM Revolution Blackberry Messenger (BBM), their instant messaging service, played a pivotal role in this transformation. BBM allowed users to text, call, and share files using a unique PIN. It became the MSN messenger on steroids, putting a portable version of MSN in the hands of teens. Notable features included: Broadcasts Teens used broadcasts extensively. They sent messages to everyone on their contact list, often in purple writing to signal a broadcast message. Broadcasts ranged from rating people's looks to discovering the party scene for under 18 club nights. Friends' PINs were broadcasted to boost their contacts, a common tactic. Parents even used broadcasts to announce punishments or grounding periods for their kids. PING!!! "PING!!!" became a widely recognized term, employed for various purposes. It served as a flirting tactic with someone you fancied, creating playful PING!!! wars. Teens also used it to seek attention or engage in conversations with a simple "PING!!!" Their BBM statuses often displayed the song they were listening to, which occasionally led to embarrassing revelations. Types of Blackberries and Social Status * Curve: The entry-level model, simple and functional. It was the go-to choice for those primarily interested in BBM. Often a Christmas gift. * Bold: For the posher crowd, equipped with a bigger screen and memory. Bold owners stood out and relished rejecting Curve owners' battery-swap requests. * Torch: Chosen by those wanting to be part of the Blackberry craze whilst wanting too stand out too. The London Riots and BBM In 2011, the London Riots occurred, with BBM receiving substantial blame for its role in organizing the riots. At the time, texting was still costly, and instant messengers like Snapchat and Instagram were either in their infancy or nonexistent. BBM became the pioneer for communication among youth. BBM messages were covert unless someone used SCREENMUNCH to capture them. During the riots, broadcasts played a major role in relaying real-time locations for rioting. The police struggled to intercept or decipher BBM messages, resulting in the rapid spread of information and unrest. The Decline of Blackberry Blackberry once dominated the smartphone world but eventually yielded its throne to iPhones and Androids. In 2019, the iconic BBM service came to an end. The Blackberry, once a symbol of business communication, had undergone a remarkable transformation, captivating a generation of British teens before fading into history. What should I do next? #JoesAlternativeHistory #Blackberry #BlackberryCurve #BlackberryBold #BlackberryTorch #BBM #LondonRiots #BlackBerryMessenger #UKCulture #BritishCulture #BritishNews #PopHistory #PopCulture - @joeefoster