First there was the iTune’s App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch applications. Then there was the Android Market for Android applications. Then the Palm App Catalog, recently announced in tandem with the company’s mind-blowing Pre smartphone. And now…the Blackberry Application Storefront.
It’s not like we haven’t known about Research In Motion’s (RIM) intentions for a while now. On more than one occasion, March ‘09 has been the anticipated launch date for the Application Storefront. But now, app developers can start applying to have their applications included.
Applications can be mainstream consumer-focused or targeted at business users, and you can find how to submit apps here. I’m not sure what the payment split will be like though I’ve heard dev’s will receive a generous 80 percent, but heads up, you’ll need a verified Paypal account.
RIM must be a little worried at this point. Despite having a Blackberry Partners Fund packed with $150 million for developers–including $3.2 million to LBS social network Buzzd–Apple recently announced its App Store has 15, 000 applications available for distribution and passed the 500 million download mark. Android apps, which so far have all been free and only available for the T-Mobile G1, have been less popular. But word has leaked that the Android Market will be accepting paid applications very soon and G1’s will be available in a variety of European countries by the end of the month. And then there’s the Palm App Catalog which promises to appeal to lower-level developers with basic web design skills. The Pre’s webOS operating system is based solely on HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
Will the Blackberry Application Storefront catch on, or is it too late? I bet ya’ a $50 million Barack Obama advertising campaign would help!
via gigaom
