BlackBerry's App World comes of age online

Finally, a polished Web gateway to the BlackBerry App World.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

No matter how much you enjoy perusing BlackBerry apps with your device in-hand, it's a likely bet you'd rather browse on the big screen when you're sitting in front of your computer. RIM, following Apple's iTunes App Store model, has created an online "Web store" for its applications.

Launched on Tuesday, the online version of RIM's BlackBerry App World mirrors the software catalog found in the mobile app, plus a few extras.

There's a spotlight on featured items, a search bar, and the ability to browse by category. You see pricing information and minimum requirements, star ratings, and can access user comments. A large carousel shows screenshots of the app, and there's a list of hyperlinked icons that you can use to virally share information about the app with e-mail contacts or with your social networks.

You can now start the installation process from the computer.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

Most notable of all (and also reminiscent of the iPhone's App Store), you're able to kick-start the application download process from RIM's online App World. At least in theory. The reality is, unfortunately, a tad less sensible.

First, it's not as easy as hooking up your device to the computer--there's no payment process from the Web site, and no direct file transfer to the phone. Here, you'll e-mail yourself a link. Follow it from the BlackBerry, and it opens up the BlackBerry browser, where you'll click yet another link to download the record in the BlackBerry App World app. It's a clumsy process, and you'll only be able to take advantage of it if the BlackBerry browser is the set default. (Check this by choosing Options from the Browser menu-->Browser Configuration-->Browser Identification.)

Click the e-mailed URL to get to this intermediary download page.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

I'll admit, I was a bit underwhelmed by the BlackBerry App World when it first emerged on the scene. While this online storefront doesn't materially change things, the option to search online adds a layer of richness to the offering and to the experience. For those with high-speed Internet and low-speed data connections for the phone, finding and comparing apps online will speed up the process.

Although polished and easy to use, there's room to grow. It would be better if RIM's online storefront integrated your payment account and downloaded files to the phone--just like iTunes for the iPhone. The download process should also be streamlined. In addition to screenshots, BlackBerry's online app store could support publisher's videos, which would take users on a more accurate and in-depth tour of the app. Regardless, the Web catalog is a strong start, and a welcome addition to BlackBerry's universe.

The BlackBerry App World application runs on BlackBerry phones with version 4.2.1 of the operating system, or higher.

[The_happy_switcher]

Only about 65,000 apps behind Apple at this point. Keep going Rimm. Maybe Microsoft will buy you.

[joshdeboer]

65,000 and 64,990 of the apps are lame!

[sting7k]

Really they are only maybe 2,000 apps behind. There are at least 63,000 pieces of trash in the app store.

[forever4now]

The Blackberry App World site looks GREAT! However, I don't see a section for web apps that are available for Blackberries, unless web apps are interleaved with regular apps. Apple has a list of web apps for the iPhone here:
http://www.apple.com/webapps/

The other major smartphone platforms (i.e. Android, Symbian, WebOS, WinMo) should also provide a list of available web apps.

Ideally, the web app list for all of the smarphone platforms should be the same, since they are browser based, but perhaps it is a bit premature to expect that.

[ranthal]

Just tried it out with my Verizon Curve. Got the e-mail fine to download the app but when I clicked the "Open in App World" link in the browser it didn't work. I have yet to double check the system requirements but the Curve isn't really that old so I'm a little let down that the RIMM engineers can't seem to grasp supporting their own current devices.

[Persico06]

Maybe your browser isn't set to Blackberry (Check this by choosing Options from the Browser menu-->Browser Configuration-->Browser Identification/Emulation Mode.) as mentioned above .

[Neumenon]

I am pretty certain that I do not need 1000 apps or even 10 loaded up on my Blackberry, lest I become like an IPhoneTard who constantly fidgets like an ADD child on crack with their little devices.

[Persico06]

I do agree Neumenon, you hit that right on the nose; however, I guess iPhone users need all those apps to fill up their memory since their phones can't be used as a storage devices - what an inefficient use of memory.

[app_addict_89]

I agree that the Apple App Store has a lot of apps, but people like to be give the option to choose from many, rather than having to be forced to pick from a small variety.
Also, I don't know how BlackBerry will apply their apps to most of their phones since they all have different hardware and software.
Will there only be some apps only the Storm's touch screen can handle?
Also, what happens to people who still have their old pearl/curve.
Can these apps work on our outdated phones?