BlackBerry launches app store

Canadian gadget shop Research In Motion (RIM) has opened the doors to its application storefront, BlackBerry App World.

Jumping on an increasingly crowded bandwagon alongside Apple and Android, RIM is pitching BlackBerry App World to developers as a channel to reach over 21 million BlackBerry users worldwide.

The app store is immediately available to BlackBerry users in the US, UK and Canada, with more country launches to follow. Users can download the App World application to their handsets by visiting www.blackberry.com/appworld on their device.

RIM expects approximately 1,000 applications to be posted by partners on BlackBerry App World this week, and has hinted it will favour applications that integrate well with the BlackBerry software and hardware, by making use of available features on the device such as GPS or camera, as well as push technology, although wireless access should be used judiciously.

The storefront will allow developers to set their own prices for applications, with RIM creaming off 20 per cent of the fee. The Canadian firm is working with PayPal to establish a familiar payment system for users. Enterprises, one of the biggest BlackBerry user bases, can also use the applications centre to retain control of what can be downloaded to devices within their corporate deployments.

The vendor is also working with carriers to provide customised, on device application centres to help foster after market application downloads. This platform will expand on RIM’s existing on device distribution system for individual software applications, such as Facebook. RIM is also notable for being the only handset manufacturer/having the capabilities to routinely push out updates to its handset users, enhancing security, features and experience.

Following in the wake of Apple and Android, the BlackBerry app store will feature a ‘Top Downloads’ area, user reviews, recommendations and an application storage folder for end users.