  Research in Motion (RIM) launched BlackBerry App World today aiming to garner a greater market share of the MVAS market in India.
The App stores will offer a range of applications including free applications as well as enterprise applications which the user can directly download onto their handsets. Some of the content is specifically built for the Indian market.
Users can download such applications from
http://in.blackberry.com/services/appworld/ or mobile.blackberry.com .
The applications can be used over the mobile network or over Wi-Fi as well.
Among the features on offer include Front Page Carousel showcasing the range of applications on offer, Top Downloads, Categories, Search/Filter, Reviews, Recommend, Application Archiving, Application Storage and Update Notifications.
Application Archiving: users can archive applications to a microSD card or built-in storage memory on their BlackBerry smartphone. India-specific applications at launch include Hungama MyPlay, CNBC TV18 Moneycontrol, Mundu Radio and Arrowmatics.
“The BlackBerry platform provides a truly unparalleled mobile experience for millions of people and we are thrilled to enhance that experience with BlackBerry App World,” says Frenny Bawa, Vice President, India, Research In Motion. “Consumers in India can now easily discover and download a wide variety of applications, including a range of ‘made for India’ apps, directly from their BlackBerry smartphone.”
The applications are compatible on BlackBerry OS 4.2 or higher and on all BlackBerry smartphones which have a trackball, touch sensitive keypad, touch-screen running. Users also need to have an active BlackBerry data service plan.
The concept of App Stores was first devised by Apple for its popular iPhone models. The concept provides handset manufacturers to get a pie of MVAS market. Apart from BlackBerry, Nokia and other leading handset manufacturers have also lined up their business plans around the concept. |