Blackberry has provided a first look at some of the new features the company has up next for BBM. Blackberry's engineers have been working on some new ways to make it faster and easier to share with your BBM contacts. Whether it?s talking with BBM Voice, connecting over a BBM Channel, sending a quick photo, or even sharing your location, there?s more to BBM than just chatting.

BBM Voice for iPhone and Android is coming next year. This means that free voice calls will be allowed to any BBM contact anywhere in the world.

BBM Channels will allow you to join conversations happening with the BBM community beyond your contact list. By creating your own channel you will be able to start conversations sparked by your thoughts, ideas and passions. Subscribing to a BBM channel will let you join conversations with others who share your interests.

Faster and easier sharing are also coming on BBM. You will be able to share photos in a snap, send a voice note with just one touch and more. And you will even be able to share your location, live, for a limited time with any contact you choose. When the timer runs out your location will be private again.

Blackberry will also add 100 new emoticons - from ROTFL, Epic Fail, Face palm, a serious hug and even a smiley-poo.

Blackberry has beeen beta testing these features now for release on Android, iPhone and BlackBerry 10, so you can expect them in the next couple months.