BlackBerry Messenger to be preloaded on LG phones

BlackBerry has announced that its BlackBerry Messenger app for Android will be preloaded on LGsmartphones, with the LG G Pro Lite being the first come bundled with the messaging service. The decision to preload BBM on the G Pro Lite initially suggests that the companies are targeting emerging markets with the move — the entry-level 5.5-inch handset is sold in Russia, China, India and the Middle East.

Today's announcement follows recent hints from BlackBerry that it'd secured deals with "leading OEMs" to preinstall BBM on Android handsets. BBM will continue to be available as a free, standalone app for Android and iOS, the company says.