You’re looking at the BlackBerry Application Center, RIM’s answer to Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android Market. Same basic concept as the other two—you browse and buy applications that enhance your BlackBerry experience.
The Application Center—we’re running out of variants of the term “application store!”—is set to debut with the BlackBerry Storm software version 4.7. All application data will be stored at the carriers’ locale; RIM is totally out of the loop as far as that goes. It’s supposed to differentiate the Application Center from the App Store in that regard—carriers can put the applications they want on their own little store.
So there you have it, RIM’s attempt to cash into the nascent application craze. I can’ tell if it’s going after Wall Street (well, what’s left of it) or Main Street with this, and the Storm more generally. As if this one BlackBerry (out of how many?) will capture the same type of minshare that the iPhone already. Then there’s the G1.
But, hey, should make for some interesting days ahead.
About bloody time. Apart from Google and some Telus-pushed apps I don’t have anything else on my Blackberry because it was a pain to find anything decent and reliable.
I don’t have anything else on my Blackberry
Just think: now you only have to get the BB Storm to get apps! You thought that loading apps on your BB was difficult? Try updating your OS. Good luck finding any files to update from in the first place
Now everybody seem to follow Apple by creating AppStore like services. Microsoft’s sky market, Google’s Android After-Market and now RIM’s Application Center. This is really good news for application developers in the sense that there would no more Apple monopoly but the bad news is that developers have to built apps for various platforms completely incompatible to each other.
This is why many developers like the concept of Android .. many phones and carriers, one platform :)
At least, that is the concept.
Yess Bart, good!!!
This is only part of the story.
The remaining question is – “What’s the royalty for 3rd party ISVs ?”
G1 was a let down in my eyes, at least from what I see now, I cant wait to see the BBS..
So has no one ever heard of handango.com?
I hope this will be released for the slightly older Berry’s. I would love to have this on my Pearl.
So is there any word on the types of applications or prices?
I would be disappointed if they are overpriced garbage apps like most of the appstore’s.
Better late than never I guess.
Risky move, leaving app data up to carriers. Not advised for RIM.
Apple is so Fu..ed
This is why we need a balance competition in everything. Thanks to the iPhone and Android, consumers now have more power.
Looks like a mockup to me. Why would they use the Synaptic logo?
I know about some forum over at http://www.blackberryappcenter.com. There’es really nobody participating in the forums though, but we’ll see what happens as the app center becomes more popular. I can’t imagine that this site would get big.
Fantastic move!