BBC 2.1 for android and iOS rolled out ....

As expected, the latest version of BBM will begin rolling out today across BlackBerry, iPhone and Android devices. BBM 2.1 brings with it BBM Stickers as well as some new features like pictures in multi-person chats and larger file transfers of up to 16MB.

The stickers will be available in both free and paid packs through the integrated BBM Shop. Packs will contain between 20-25 stickers and will be for brands like Shaun the Sheep and WWE.

Press Release

BBM Chats Just Got More Fun with the Introduction of Stickers

Multi-Person Photo Sharing and Larger File Transfers Round Out New Features

Waterloo, ON - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB), a global leader in mobile communications, today announced an update of BBM™, a leading mobile messaging platform for private and secure communications, that allows customers to further personalize and enhance their chat experiences.

Available for download later today from the respective app stores for the Android™, BlackBerry® and iOS® platforms, BBM will now offer stickers – larger, bolder and more expressive images than emoticons – that BBM users can add to their BBM chats. Customers will be able to purchase and download sticker packs from the new BBM Shop found in BBM.

“Stickers are another great example of how we’re making the BBM experience more engaging and fun for our customers,” said David Proulx, Senior Director, BBM at BlackBerry. “Stickers let you personalize your chats and strike the right chord with people around the world who rely on stickers in chats when they connect with colleagues, family, friends, peers and partners.”

BBM customers will be able to download a variety of sticker packs right inside BBM from the BBM Shop. Each sticker pack contains between 20 and 25 stickers and features content developed by talented artists or relating to a theme or a character like CosCat, Gilbert’s Tales or Bubble Bot, as well as sticker packs featuring content from popular brands including Shaun the Sheep and WWE. To start, sticker packs will either be offered for free, or cost US $1.99, or an approximate equivalent amount in the local currency, and will be billed through the device’s app store.

With WrestleMania 30 just around the corner, WWE is planning to give away a free sticker pack to its fans through BBM. In addition, a free sticker pack created by BlackBerry featuring favorite BBM emoticons will be available to all BBM customers that download the new update. BlackBerry plans to add new sticker packs on a regular basis.

In addition to stickers, BBM customers can now easily share photos in multi-person chats*. Photos will be delivered in the chat as a thumbnail that can be opened to reveal the image in full size. BBM customers can also now send higher quality photos, videos and presentations thanks to larger in-chat file transfers. Files up to 16MB can now be shared in a chat, an increase of 10MB.

Samsung asking google for help ...

With the Apple vs Samsung trial gaining more and more heat, the next round of court visits is just a couple of days away. We’ve been hearing of Apple’s master plan in billing Samsung $40 for every device shipped, based on all the patent infringement that has been proven, and we know that what Cupertino wants is for Samsung to no longer make money off-of its mobile division. Whether that happens or not is yet to be seen, but we’ve just learned what Samsung is planning next as a way to fight back.

 Samsung is looking for Google’s help, and particularly that of Andy Rubin, co-founder of Android before it was purchased by Google. Apparently Samsung wants some of Google’s engineers to tell the story of how Android came to be, and to explain why there are certain similarities with iOS. Samsung’s approach is quite smart, since Apple didn’t really invent the wheel with the iPhone either. A lot of the patents that Apple has won are so basic that there’s no way for competing companies to not infringe them, and this gives Samsung a tough argument to fight.

Whether Google does participate is yet to be seen, but this does add a certain level of extra drama to the mix.

Apple's Q1 earnings

In Apple's Q1 earnings report, the company reported a profit of $13.1 billion. That's a whole lot of money, but it can sometimes be difficult to really wrap your head around a figure that large. So to help put it in perspective, here are a few things you could buy with that much money.