Looks like RIM has realised that its BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) messaging platform is one major draw when it comes to keeping users latched on to the platform. Feeling the heat of the stiff competition from other mobile P2P messaging platforms, especially the multi-platform WhatsApp, the company is now, along with major operators Vodafone and Airtel, offering BBM-specific tariff plans, including a daily plan with Vodafone. Vodafone has launched a Go BBM service plan, where users can pay Rs 129 per month or Rs 5 per day for unlimited access to BBM. The plan will be launched next week for both prepaid as well as postpaid subscribers. In addition to the plan, Vodafone is offering unlimited BBM access for an year to users who purchase a BlackBerry Curve 8520 or 9300 smartphone. Airtel has also launched a similar plan wherein its Postpaid customers can pay a monthly rental of Rs 129 and get unlimited BBM access and 300 national SMS free. Strangely the plan is not available for prepaid customers. Till now, BlackBerry users required a subscription to BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) or BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) to access the internet, e-mail and BBM. Operators later introduced cheaper 'messaging only' plans that offered access to just e-mail and instant messaging, restricting internet use, when RIM launched cheaper handsets and started targeting the youth. With BBM-only plans RIM is trying to target users who mainly use their device for messaging. Remember that in addition to text BBM also offers the ability to share location, or…
