BlackBerry App World

BlackBerry Curve 8900 to try out...


The recently rolled out BlackBerry App World.

The BlackBerry is a wireless handheld device introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager. In 2002, the more commonly known smartphone BlackBerry was released, which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services as well as a multi-touch interface.

Lately, any smart phone maker worth its salt is operating or about to launch an application store that corrals all kinds of free and paid software you can download straight to your handset. Apple Inc started the trend with July's release of its App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Google Inc runs one for phones that support its Android operating system, currently just the T-Mobile G1, though more are expected, and Nokia Corp runs several it plans to consolidate into one. Palm Inc is developing the Palm App Catalog for its upcoming Pre handset, while Microsoft Corp is making one for phones that use its Windows Mobile OS.

Not wanting to be left in the dust, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd unveiled App World early this month, marking a major change from the past, when third-party programs were available for BlackBerrys but not in one convenient spot.

App World will undoubtedly appeal to RIM's growing legion of consumer users, as well as business users with some free time. But with only a fraction of the applications available through Apple's App Store and many fewer than Google's Android Market, App World has a lot of growing to do before it can become a serious contender in the booming smart phone application market. It doesn't help either that starting prices are three times those for Apple and Google programs.

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