Taking a page from the Snapchat playbook, BlackBerry will let BBM messaging service users control how long messages and pictures can be viewed, hoping the feature, along with other new capabilities, will result in a new revenue stream.

The BBM upgrade will be available for BlackBerry’s own smartphones as well as for Android and iOS over the next couple of days. The company didn’t say when the Windows Phone version would be updated.

By setting a timer, users control how long messages and pictures can be viewed by their contacts. The new BBM message type is hidden until the recipient touches and holds on the chat. Then, once the timer has expired or when the recipient takes their finger off the screen, the message is gone, according to BlackBerry. The user also receives a notification if BBM detects that a screenshot of the image or message has been taken.

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