BlackBerry’s big moment: Can it make money with BBM? The messaging app market has really started to heat up after*Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19 billion and after Alibaba's investment in the far more obscure Tango granted it a $1 billion valuation. As popular entries like Viber, WhatsApp and Tango have found big strategic partners, the number of stand-alone messaging apps with more than 100 million registered users has dwindled. BBM and Kik are among the most **table indie messaging apps left looking for sugar daddies and their futures will hinge upon whether they can show real potential to generate revenue. That's why BBM is **w at such a crucial juncture: It is dipping its toes in the advertising market for the first time.