BlackBerry App World
Total Apps: 2,773
Opened: April 1, 2009
BlackBerry apps existed long before anyone even knew what an “app store” was, but RIM joined the likes of Google and Apple in offering an easy-to-browse catalog right on the phone this past spring with BlackBerry App World. This initial pool of mature apps gave App World a bit of a jumpstart, but it remains a latecomer, and the number of apps in the library still reflects it.
RIM chose two interesting strategies to lure developers over to developing for its platform: They get a sizable 80 percent cut of sales, rather than the standard 70 that Google and Apple offer, and they can’t peddle their apps at the all-popular (and unprofitable) 99-cent price point. BlackBerry developers must either choose to make their apps free, or charge at least $2.99. This may keep developers from undercutting one another until they make next to nothing, but paid applications on App World generally cost more than on other platforms as a result. We found only 42 free games – barely enough to keep the hardcore BlackBerry addict satisfied for a week or two.
Fortunately, the same policy also seems to weed out much of the clutter that afflicts Google and Apple to some degree. App World feels like a premium app store, without many poorly thought out or completely worthless apps to sift through. And a lot of apps offer genuine utility for business users, like sales contact managers and expense report tools.
Oddly enough, not all BlackBerry phones come with App World preinstalled, meaning owners will have to know about it and visit BlackBerry’s download page to get started.
The entire App World library can be viewed online through BlackBerry.com.
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