Blackberry Storm maker Research in Motion (RIM) has used
itsdeveloper
conference in the US this weekto launch
online distribution channels for consumers, carriers and
developers.
With 20 million global Blackberry users, RIM hopes its
Blackberry Application
Storefront and Blackberry Application Center channels will
increase its smartphone market share.
RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis told developers at the conference that
the Blackberry platform held 54% of the US smartphone market at end
of the second quarter. Its closest rival was Palm with 11%, and the
Apple iPhone had 7%, he said.
Lazaridis said the new channels would help Blackberry
consolidate its global market position.
RIM plans to launch Application Storefront in March 2009 and
Blackberry application developers can begin submitting their
applications and content for inclusion in Storefront in December
2008.
Storefront will allow developers to set their own prices for
applications, and developers will retain 80% of the revenue
generated from their applications.
RIM is working with PayPal to provide consumers with a
convenient and trusted way to pay for applications direct from
Blackberry smartphones.
RIM said organisations that have deployed
Blackberry Enterprise Server or Blackberry Professional
Software will retain control of what applications can be downloaded
to Blackberry smartphones within their corporate deployments.
RIM is also working with its carrier partners to provide
carrier-customised, on-device application centres to help foster
after-market application downloads.
Blackberry Application Center will allow each carrier to offer a
convenient catalogue on devices, where a customer can discover and
download applications.
RIM has worked with carriers to provide this type of on-device
distribution system for individual software applications, such as
the Facebook for Blackberry Smartphones application.
Blackberry Application Center will allow a carrier to build on
that success with a broader catalogue and provide customers with a
convenient and easy method to purchase and download applications,
said RIM. It is talking to carriers about adopting Application
Center.
Lazaridis said, "The Blackberry platform enjoys strong roots in
the enterprise market and we continue to invest for growth and
success with our enterprise channel partners. But the introduction
of more consumer-friendly features in Blackberry smartphones has
clearly helped generate a groundswell of interest with new
developers that has already resulted in the introduction of
thousands of consumer and lifestyle-oriented applications for
Blackberry smartphones."
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