Research In Motion today launched the BlackBerry App World, an on-device application store for BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry users can download the BlackBerry App World application by visiting
www.blackberry.com/appworld from their handheld. The BlackBerry App World is RIM’s answer to the iPhone App Store, Android Market and others in the fast growing wave of manufactures and platform providers aiming to make it easier for folks to discover, download and install software to their mobile devices.
“BlackBerry App World provides a fantastic new resource for consumers and an equally exciting progression of business opportunities for our developer and carrier partners,” said RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie in a statement. “We are launching BlackBerry App World with a solid selection and we look forward to working with our partners to continue delivering the types of apps that best suit our customers’ personalized needs and interests.”
According to RIM, highlights of BlackBerry App World include:
A broad mix of exciting personal and business applications
The ability to browse applications by a variety of categories and search by keyword
User reviews, as well as a "recommend" feature that lets users suggest applications to others through e-mail, PIN, SMS message or BlackBerry Messenger
My World - a personal storage space that keeps track of downloaded applications, allowing users to easily transfer purchased applications to a new BlackBerry smartphone
A "Top Downloads" area that lists the most downloaded applications
Weekly featured applications showcased on a front page carousel
Access over Wi-Fi and cellular networks
RIM said it expects approximately 1,000 free and paid applications to be posted by partners this week, including applications from popular brands such as Pandora, Shazam and the New York Times. At launch, there should also be applications from the likes of Bloomberg, ClearChannel (iheartradio), Gameloft, Hotel Reservation Service, LIVESTRONG.COM , Lonely Planet, MTV Networks, Salesforce.com, Shazam, Slacker, Viigo and WorldMate, among others.
BlackBerry App World is available for BlackBerry smartphones with a trackball or touch-screen running BlackBerry device software 4.2 or higher.
