BlackBerry App World hits 10k, still has some catching up to do
RIM boast their 10,000th app, still quite a way behind Apple and Android
Published: 8 September, 2010
READ MORE: Research In Motion | Handset
RIM has proudly announced via twitter that the BlackBerry App World now offers 10,000 apps. Certainly not to be sniffed at, and it's an important milestone for the brand, but when compared to the Apple App Store and the ever expanding Android Market it seems somewhat less impressive.
Unsurprisingly, Apple has the most with 250,000 apps followed by Android in second place with 100,000. Considering the headstart that Apple has had, Android is catching up fast, considerably faster than RIM. Add to that the fact that Microsoft claim that 300,000 developers have signed up for their dev kit for Windows Phone 7 and it seems like having 10,000 apps isn't something you'd want to shout (or tweet) about.
With their smaller and non-touchscreens, BlackBerry devices have failed to attract the attention that the more powerful Apple and Android phones have. Add to this the fact that most BlackBerry users have enterprise accounts and can't install 3rd party apps, the resulting range of phones isn't a very attractive platform for developers. This could change if RIM start releasing more devices like its upcoming Torch, which features a reasonably sized touchscreen. Not only would it offer developers the chance to create more engaging apps but would appeal to a wider range of users outside the business demographic with which BlackBerry devices are more commonly associated.
"BlackBerry AppWorld is 10,000 apps strong and growing - what apps do you love?" is the quote from its twitter account. Following the link to their App World web page reveals that top apps on their store include Facebook, Crash Bandicoot Mutant Island and Hotel Resort Tycoon. Despite having the popular licensed title DJ Hero as one of their newest apps it is absent from the featured apps box at the top of the page where instead you'll find such excitement as the Swiss Phone Book and a Turner Classic Movies Schedule.
Recent tweets suggest they're reaching out not only to developers but also to a younger audience, encouraging those going back to college to send them twitpics of humourous college t-shirts.
Unless the Torch becomes wildly popular and reaches that wider audience it could be a while before BlackBerry users see the 20,000th, let alone the 100,000th tweet.
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