Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

No native Instagram app coming to BlackBerry 10, report claims

Trevor Mogg
By

instagram1It seems that BlackBerry 10 users hoping for a native Instagram app are going to be disappointed, with a report Thursday suggesting the photo-sharing company has no plans to build one anytime soon.

An unnamed source apparently close to Instagram told AllThingsD that “there will be no [native] Instagram for BB10 for now,” adding, “Frankly, I’m not sure there will ever be.”

Recommended Videos

Sure, it’s early days for BlackBerry 10 – the platform that needs to succeed if the company formerly known as RIM is to survive in its current form – but to win over consumers and present itself as a viable alternative to iOS and Android, a decent selection of apps is paramount and really needs to include the big names.

Related

Native versions of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are already available in the mobile company’s BlackBerry World app store, but there are still glaring omissions, most notably Netflix and Instagram.

The reasons for Instagram’s reported decision to hold off from building a native app for BB10 aren’t certain. It could be that it just doesn’t have the resources – its team comprises around 20 employees, after all – and also it may be reluctant to take the risk with a new platform whose future at this stage isn’t certain.

But it’s not all bad news for Instagram fans interested in forking out for a BB10 device, as the photo-sharing company is said to be working on a port of the Android version of its popular app. Keep in mind though, the fact that it won’t be optimized for the BB10 platform could mean the user experience won’t be as smooth as you’d get with a native version.

Of course, it’s quite possible that on hearing that a native Instagram app may not be coming to BB10, many of those interested in getting their hands on one of BlackBerry’s new handsets will simply shrug their shoulders and utter a carefree “no problem”, though as for BlackBerry, the Ontario-based mobile maker would certainly like to see it in its online store at some point. 

Having big names like Instagram holding back from its fledgling platform could send out the wrong message to other developers and may make it that bit more difficult for BlackBerry to establish itself as the number three platform in the mobile market after iOS and Android, a position BlackBerry boss Thorsten Heins has publicly stated as a goal of the company.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Trevor Mogg
Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
BlackBerry Key2 LE: Everything you need to know
The BlackBerry Key2 LE is back home at Verizon, but only for business types
BlackBerry Key2 LE Hands On

The BlackBerry Key LE is a lower-cost version of the Key2, doing away with some of the more high-tech features seen on the expensive sister phone, and cutting costs by using different materials for the body, to create a more affordable but still distinctly BlackBerry smartphone.

You can check out our Key2 LE review to learn more about what it's like to live with the phone, but in the meantime, here are all the technical specs, details, and availability options.
Updates
The BlackBerry Key2 LE is available to buy at Verizon, but only to business and enterprise customers, according to reports. Verizon's selling the Key2 LE for $450 without a contract, or for $100 if you sign up for a two-year plan. The phone does not show up on Verizon's non-business store, so there does not seem to be the option to buy the phone for this price without a business plan.

Read more
One of the biggest Oura Ring competitors just did something huge
The Ultrahuman Ring Air and the Oura Ring, resting on a table.

Ultrahuman, the maker of the Ultrahuman Ring Air, is making its way to U.S. production grounds. The company is setting up a production facility in Indiana, which will mark the first time a smart ring from Ultrahuman will be assembled from scratch on U.S. soil.

“The UltraFactory will offer an end-to-end production capability and is based on the company’s first operational model of such a facility in India,” the company says.

Read more
Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S24, iPhone and more
Verizon logo on a smartphone screen in a dark room and a finger touching it.

If you’re in the market for one of the best phones, or any new phone for that matter, you’re going to need a good carrier. Verizon has long been one of the most popular options, as it boasts one of the most reliable networks in the United States. It offers some of the best cell phone plans out there, and for new customers Verizon also offers some pretty impressive discounts on new phones. In many cases this means you can brand new, recently released phones entirely for free when signing up with Verizon. And that’s the case right now, as we’re currently seeing some of the best Verizon new customer deals we’ve seen. You can pretty easily land a new iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, and Google Pixel for free, and we’ve got all of the details on how to do so. If that sounds enticing, read onward and start shopping the best Verizon new customer deals available right now.
Free iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

The 2022 release of the Apple iPhone SE is yours for free when you sign up for a new 5G data plan on Verizon -- no trade-ins required. It's the best small smartphone in our list of the best smartphones with a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display, but it doesn't sacrifice performance as it's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip that's also found in the iPhone 13 line and pre-installed with iOS 15. The latest iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, which are boosted by Apple's software to enable better photographs.

Read more