RIM offers free voice calls over Wi-Fi with BBM
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TORONTO (AP) - BlackBerry users will be able to make free voice calls over a Wi-Fi network using the popular BBM messaging service.
Research In Motion (RIM) announced on Wednesday that it's adding the feature to BBM. Users will be able to switch back and forth from a text chat to a voice call. A split-screen option will let them talk and text at the same time.
The new feature is a free update for existing customers and comes months before RIM introduces its new BlackBerry 10 smartphones, which are seen critical to RIM's survival.
RIM surprised analysts in September when it announced that the number of BlackBerry subscribers grew, thanks in part to emerging markets and its popular BBM service. It's struggling in North America as customers migrate to flashier iPhones and Android phone.
