RIM has entered Skype territory after unveiling an Internet voice chat function for its BBM instant messenger.

BBM Voice works over WiFi connection and only works if both users have a BlackBerry phone. The feature comes with the latest update of the service.

Follow us

RIM hopes the feature will allow the BlackBerry to remain relevant at a time when Microsoft's Skype and Google's Talk change the way people communicate over mobile technology.

Users can switch between BBM Voice and BBM text chat to talk and a split-screen feature allows customers to talk and text at the same time.

However, BBM Voice still lacks the video chat functionality and 3G support found in Apple's Facetime, Microsoft's Skype and Google+ Hangouts.

Both Microsoft's and Google's products can also work on platforms apart from their own Windows Phone and Android-based operating systems.

"BBM is the quick, easy way to stay connected to the people that matter to you, and with today's announcement we're expanding the capabilities of the service for deeper social engagement and even greater collaboration, beginning with voice functionality," said T.A. McCann, Vice President of BBM and Social Communities at RIM. "The new BBM Voice feature is for when you're travelling and you want to call home without worrying about phone charges. It's for when you have news you can't wait to share, for quickly explaining complicated details, and collaborating with colleagues. Whenever your ideas are too big for text, there's BBM Voice."

News of BBM Voice comes ahead of the much-delayed release of the Blackberry 10 operating system in January.

RIM is hoping that its new OS will help reinvent the business as it faces declining revenue. Once a leader in the smartphone sector, the Canadian firm has suffered in the face of competition from Apple and devices using Google's Android.

However, the company hopes to revive its fortunes with a particular focus on developing markets. It said that its new BBM Voice feature will be particularly attractive to those regions because it offers a cheaper alternative to SMS text messaging.

The new feature currently only works on Blackberry 6 and 7 smartphones, but RIM plans to expand this to include Blackberry 5 devices as well.

Join Our Conversation

Smartphones

Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 8 quad-core smartphone shows up in benchmarks

Leaked images highlight Nokia EOS aluminum body

HTC One will get Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update despite recent rumors

Oppo Find 7 may boast Snapdragon 800 processor, whopping 4000mAh battery

Tablet / Laptop / PC

AT&T Galaxy Note 8.0 LTE costs $399.99 on contract, $199.99 with smartphone bundles

Chromebooks land on Walmart, more retailers to get it soon

Apple's next iPad mini 7.9 inch Retina display will be Samsung-made

Next generation Google Nexus 7 could launch in July for $229

Gadgets

AMD moves from Intel's x86 platform to ARM for servers

OUYA team and E3 organizers battle over parking lot space

Sony PlayStation 4 to be available at $399 at the end of this year

Mad Catz to unveil M.O.J.O. Android game console at E3 to challenge Ouya

OS / Software

Windows Phone 8 GDR2 update reportedly coming in July

iOS 7 Beta comes with a bug that opens the lock screen to access photos [Video]

Microsoft recovers missing Lumia 920 with prototype Windows Phone Blue

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, Motorola X Phone reportedly launching in October

Internet / Social Media

What to expect from Facebook's June 20 event

WWDC 2013: OS X 10.9 Mavericks Safari is going to help you extend battery life

Samsung Galaxy S3 browser bug spikes data usage, slows loading times

Cisco appeals to European Commission to overturn Microsoft's 2011 acquisiton of Skype

What's App

Microsoft paying app developers up to $100,000 to bring content to Windows Phone 8

Windows 8.1 brings newly updated Xbox Music app

Instagram may add video on June 20 to challenge Twitter's Vine

Microsoft Office now available for iPhones, but there's a catch