RIM BlackBerry Store Announced

By: Mary Couchman
Staff Writer
Published: Oct 21, 2008

Research In Motion Limited on Tuesday announced a new online RIM BlackBerry Mobile Application Storefront. The storefront will make it easier for BlackBerry mobile users to download add-on applications. The mobile phone company also announced details of its new BlackBerry browser.

Research In Motion Limited on Tuesday announced a new online RIM BlackBerry Mobile Application Storefront. The business technology company hopes to compete with Apple Inc's iPhone App Store.

The new online storefront serves as a central hub for RIM BlackBerry owners. Users can download and manage apps instead of Web downloads.

BlackBerry customers can also buy directly from the software and apply upgrades. The new store also lets users delete software without finding it in the regular BlackBerry operating system.

RIM hopes to outperform Apple by improving the financial appeal for both carriers and developers. BlackBerry providers can customize the look and feel of the App Center so that it can brand with a particular network.

The new RIM BlackBerry Application Storefront will begin accepting new app submissions in December. The App center will formally roll out in March of next year.

The company also mentioned an update to its BlackBerry Web Browser. Version 4.6 will operate much like a desktop browser. It will also offer greater support for CSS, AJAX, HTML, XHTML and DOM L2 code. Some of these technologies are used to coincide with the upcoming app store.

Some BlackBerry apps will be immediately available which include AOL, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Gmail, and Windows Live Hotmail.