RIM readies BlackBerry Application Storefront and Application Center

Big surprise here and all, but we hear RIM is actually thinking of crafting an App Store of its own in order to not get lapped by the likes of Apple and Google. Made official today was Research In Motion's plans to introduce a pair of "major distribution initiatives" for BlackBerry applications: the BlackBerry Application Storefront and the BlackBerry Application Center. The former is slated to launch in March 2009 (translation: forever from now), though developers can begin submitting their apps and content beginning in December. Similar to Apple's initiative, RIM will give devs the ability to set prices and retain 80% of all revenue from sales, and it will be giving the rest of the dough to working with PayPal for transactions. Of course, enterprise admins can still maintain control over what apps can be downloaded onto company phones, but you know you can sweet talk the boss into relaxing some of those restrictions. The Application Center is a carrier-customized, on-device tool for providers to host specific programs for customers. Details on deployment (and more importantly, app screening) are all but nil, but considering we've got until March before we can even use the Storefront, we can wait. Angrily.

[Via phonescoop]

[andy @ Oct 21st 2008 1:41PM]

This is the start. I would guess in 2 years they are going to pump out an update that only allows you to install apps they have on their site. This is the problem with app stores. The company starts to care about money more then the people who own their products.

[one2gamble @ Oct 21st 2008 1:56PM]

paypal?

gag me

[Doug @ Oct 21st 2008 2:38PM]

Does PayPal have a competitor? If so I would buy their stock.

[Ashwin @ Oct 21st 2008 3:12PM]

Quite a few actually. Western Union (BidPay), Google Checkout, iKobo. Just credit cards, payment processing is really a business suited to be a oligopoly.

[extravagant @ Oct 21st 2008 2:49PM]

i don't know why u want custom apps on a blackberry.....

[Chuck Bower @ Oct 21st 2008 2:57PM]

Crackberry.com already has a BB apploader that works like a champ!

[peestandingup @ Oct 21st 2008 4:11PM]

Wow, RIM. Thanks for showing up to the party late as hell. Should have been doing this for a while now. Especially with the number of apps & userbase already in place.

Why does it take Apple doing the obvious first before companies like RIM get their ass in line?

[MacroEQ @ Oct 21st 2008 5:41PM]

Too little too late from RIM....

And add the fact that RIM don't provide Linux support... they're bound to struggle when Android picks up steam...

[El Taco @ Oct 21st 2008 7:44PM]

because SO MANY people have nothing but linux on their computers...

[sgammella @ Oct 21st 2008 8:33PM]

Iphone!

[Mikeweezer @ Oct 21st 2008 9:41PM]

Question:

If you write apps that are intended only for your company, how do you get them on the blackberry? Is this just a URL you point them at for download? Also - what language do you code in for RIM? - I'm assuming Java....

[Vince @ Oct 22nd 2008 2:20PM]

I don't understand why they will charge for apps when google already offers several apps for free. I downloaded google maps and calender sync tools to my Curve for free. I'm sure google will keep push out more free apps.

http://www.PicFire.com