• Coming Soon: BlackBerry App Store

    Coming Soon: BlackBerry App Store

    Techtree News Staff, Oct 07, 2008 1119 hrs IST

    Takes a different approach than Apple's App Store

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Unlike what BlackBerry Co-CEO Jim Balsillie denied the possibility of App Store for BlackBerry handsets, we stumbled upon something very exciting. Along with the BlackBerry Storm documents, information about the BlackBerry App Store was leaked over the internet.

Yes, you read that right - BlackBerry Application Center will be their App Store. The Application Center will be launched based on BlackBerry Storm's operating system 4.7 version. Users can browse, download and install-upgrade BlackBerry Apps from third party developers hosted by cell carriers. Application Center will lie between the user and carrier's downloadable application directory that will also contain description and other information.



Thus, the application server will be on the carrier side and they'll have the say to offer applications of their choice even after being approved by BlackBerry. So this means you can't download directly from the Application Center. Carriers will host the application data and updates.

The user interface is designed for Storm's touchscreen and the application home screen will list the specific handset and compatible applications listed by that particular carrier. The application download will occur through the Internet browser and it will follow single click installation.

Research in Motion has taken different approach for Application Center compared to Apple's App Store or Android Market. Too many applications aren't expected initially as Balsillie said that RIM will look forward for better interfacing of application with BlackBerry devices.

Not to think much about the type of applications to be developed since the first annual BlackBerry Developer Conference 2008 is schedule to be from October 20-22 at Santa Clara, US. At this conference, BlackBerry is likely to welcome developers for writing applications for upcoming Storm's operating system that supports touchscreen.

No matter how much they deny, every major player in mobile operating system market is coming out with their App Store. Hence, after Apple App Store, Android Market, Microsoft's rumored Skymarket and now BlackBerry Application Center, probably next you will see Symbian jumping into the fray. If you're expecting something, please stop it. Symbian Foundation will have open mobile software platform to develop applications for Symbian. On the other hand T-Mobile is rumored to be developing Apple App Store rival in the near future as well.

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Discussion Board
(1) Comments
Marc
,Chicago, on Oct 07, 2008 05:43 PM
If you can't beat them, join them, Case and point.

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