BlackBerry plans to make its popular instant messaging service BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) available to Andriod and iPhone users in the coming months.

According to the smartphone maker, the BBM service is planned to be available on iOS6 and Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher operating systems, which are all subject to approval by the Apple Application Store and Google Play.

BBM is BlackBerry’s flagship feature and allows users to send instant messages to each another, conduct multi-person chats, as well as share photos and voice notes.

The Canadian phone maker adds that iOS and Android users are expected to be able to add their contacts through PIN, email, SMS or QR code scans.

“For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service,” said Andrew Bocking, executive vice president for Software Product Management and Ecosystem at BlackBerry.

“BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community,” he added.

BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, according to BlackBerry.

The Canadian company has also unveiled its latest lower cost smartphone, Q5 to be available in selected markets.

The new smartphone has BlackBerry 10 functionality and is expected to go on sale at the beginning of July.

The Q5 features include a QWERTY keyboard with discrete keys in a youthful design and it comes in pink, black, white and red colours.

Price-points of the Q5 have not been released yet.