Difference Between Facebook Beluga Pods and BBM (Blackberry Messenger)

Facebook Beluga and BBM (Blackberry Messenger) are multimedia group messaging applications. Both are based on similar concept and similar in many features too, but one of the main difference between Beluga and BBM is that Beluga is used in many platforms while BBM is used in Blackberry smartphones only. You can download Beluga from Android Market and Apple Apps store. Facebook Beluga is considered as a BBM alternative in other smartphones.

Blackberry phones are preferred by corporates for its excellet communication features. They are the pioneers in introducing push mail and push messaging systems. BBM is one such excellent multimedia messaging application from Blackberry. Beluga Pods has adopted a similar concept in its messaging application but it is not exactly the same. There is difference between Beluga and BBM. Ping Chat is another multimedia group messaging application very much similar to these two applications and also available with Android platforms and Apple iOS.

Beluga

Beluga is a group messaging application where you can create a group or pod and send messages to them only. Basically it’s in between SMS kind of single point to point messaging system and twitter like broadcasting system. So you may think what are the differences between group chat in Skype or other messenger applications and Beluga, in group chat users have to be online to receive your chat but in Beluga they don’t need to. Beluga pods are completely private and multi-way communication application.

Beluga was started in July 2010 by Ben Davenport, Lucy Zhang and Jonathan Perlow. Facebook the social networking giant bought Beluga in Q1, 2011. Even though Facebook has its own messenger application and status update which is almost equivalent to what Beluga and twitter are using, Facebook bought Beluga because of its excellent features. So now Beluga will be used with Facebook login credentials to sign in.

Beluga is a best cross platform messaging application for groups and group could be 2 individuals as well. So it caters the single to single communication and single to multiple communications. With Beluga users can create private groups or pods to communicate between friends, share plans and share status updates. Beluga supports to send and receive instant updates, location information and photos via push notifications for free. Beluga is perfect for staying in touch with family and friends to plan events and updating each others. The main features of Beluga are:

• Sign in with Facebook login credentials

• Automatically pull the contacts of the Beluga users from Facebook.

• Send and receive instant updates.

• Share location, photos, or messages with individuals or groups across multiple platforms

• Create and maintain multiple groups

• Plan your events with time and location details

BBM

Blackberry Messenger is an instant messaging application supported by BlackBerry smartphones only. With BBM you can share multimedia messages between two individuals or among groups. Some of the key features of BBM are:

• Send and receive messages with unlimited character length.

• Share photos and videos with individuals or group.

• Choose your own display picture for your contacts.

• Add your contacts by scanning their BBM barcode or pin.

• Get real time confirmations when instant messages are delivered.

• Reveal the music that’s playing on your smartphone.

BlackBerry Messenger – Features – Official Video