Mike Kirkup, RIM's head of developer relations
(Credit: ZDNet UK)ZDNet UK caught up with Mike Kirkup, RIM's head of developer relations, to discuss the upcoming launch of the BlackBerry Application Storefront and what it means for mobile developers.
On Monday, Research in Motion opened up the submission process for its Application Storefront, through which third-party software for the BlackBerry can be sold to the public by its developers--the handset maker's answer to the iPhone App Store and Google's Android Market. The online Application Storefront is planned to go live in March, and an on-device Application Center is also in the works.
ZDNet UK caught up with Mike Kirkup, RIM's head of developer relations, to discuss what the store means for RIM's developer community.
Q: Google is fairly relaxed about which applications can go into the Android Market, and Apple is quite strict about keeping out App Store submissions that replicate functionality already on the iPhone. What level of gatekeeping does RIM want to exercise over the applications that go onto Storefront?
Kirkup: We have the ability today for people to write apps for our platform, and we put no restrictions on when, where, or how they can distribute those apps--it could be through the BlackBerry site, or something like Handango.
What we're trying to do is build up a catalog of apps that are easy for customers to find and use. If somebody builds a better calendar app than the one that's natively on the device, we don't have a problem with that, and they are welcome to sell it through existing channels. However, we want to make sure no one is violating any agreements, and their applications don't use excessive network bandwidth or lewd content.
What do you mean when you say you won't allow apps that use "excessive bandwidth?"
Kirkup: That will differ across different carriers. We are definitely going to be sensitive to people moving a significant amount of traffic over the carrier's network without an agreement with the carrier. The BlackBerry is very focused on managing network performance--we compress a lot of traffic and encrypt, in the case of enterprise traffic. The ones that are going to be in that range (will involve) streaming scenarios, video, and audio.
There is quite a shift going on towards open mobile platforms, particularly with Android. Why would a developer address the closed BlackBerry platform when they could develop for a platform that is free to put on a variety of phones?
Kirkup: Our big value proposition for developers centers around the features and functionality we can provide, and our strong leadership position in the market. We have 21 million active users, and the majority are likely to use their device for more than phone calls.
Will RIM ever move towards an open-platform strategy?
Kirkup: We'll find a balance between what's the easiest way to engage developers and create a platform. One of RIM's key advantages is that we build everything from the bottom up in our platform, from the radio to the Java stack to APIs. We provide a consistent experience across all our devices and across the world; it is difficult to replicate the experience across all these different devices (with an open platform).
Eighty percent of the revenues from applications on Storefront will go the developers or vendors. What happens to the other 20 percent?
Kirkup: We have costs associated with that channel, such as our partnership with PayPal. Anything left over would be shared with carriers or kept by RIM.
Will PayPal be the only payment mechanism for Storefront?
Kirkup: At launch, that will be only mechanism that will be available. As for after that, we have plans as to how to evolve the Storefront, but we will see after the launch.
How far back in the BlackBerry range will the applications sold through Storefront work?
Kirkup: It will work back to version 4.2.1--basically any trackball- or touch-based device. We will make sure we provide developers using the (Storefront) channel a very large user base to attract their application.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Kirkup: We've designed the Storefront from the very beginning to be used for this purpose. There is lots of functionality in it to make it easy for application developers to support it--free trials (of applications) and so on. We also want to make sure we've worked really hard on the rating system to ensure we can provide a lot of value back to the community when people are looking to purchase applications.
Research In Motion will not be as tough a gatekeeper as Apple in admitting applications to its storefront, but it will reject BlackBerry apps it thinks use too much network bandwidth, the company's developer relations chief has told ZDNet UK.
Mike Kirkup said on Thursday that the Canadian handset manufacturer will welcome third-party software that replicates the functionality of native BlackBerry applications onto the BlackBerry Application Storefront--a strategy that is not followed by Apple with its iPhone App Store. However, certain types of applications, such as those offering streaming video, might be turned down.
"If somebody builds a better calendar app than the one that's natively on the device, we don't have a problem with that, and they are welcome to sell it through existing channels," Kirkup said in an interview with CNET News sister site ZDNet UK. "However, we want to make sure no-one is violating any agreements, and their applications don't use excessive network bandwidth or lewd content."
Kirkup said the bandwidth policy might differ across different mobile operators. "We are definitely going to be sensitive to people moving a significant amount of traffic over the carrier's network without an agreement with the carrier," he said, identifying streaming video and audio as possible sticking points.
Applications sold through the BlackBerry Application Storefront, which is due to go live in March, will work on any BlackBerry smartphone that has a trackball or touch interface, Kirkup said. He added that a rating system was being developed to make it easier for users to judge the quality of applications being sold through the store.
RIM opened up the submissions process for Storefront applications on Monday.
David Meyer of ZDNet UK reported from London.
Research In Motion has begun soliciting applications for the BlackBerry Application Storefront, which is due to go live in March.
Submissions for applications opened on Monday. RIM announced in October that it would be launching an app store in March of this year, a move that will bring it in line with rivals such as Apple, Google, and Palm, each of whom has or is about to launch their own on-device app stores.
The vendor guidelines listed on RIM's Web site make it explicit that the Canadian handset manufacturer "reserves the right to accept, deny, or remove any application from the Storefront, at any time." However, it is not yet clear precisely how much control RIM intends to exercise over which applications are chosen for listing--the closest points of comparison being the iPhone App Store, over which Apple retains control, and the Android Market, where Google has a notably low barrier to entry.
RIM is working with PayPal on the payment mechanism for the Storefront. Organizations will also be able to roll out applications to BlackBerry-toting workers. Those using BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Professional Software will be able to control which applications their workers are able to download.
Mobile operators will also be able to put their own customized application catalogues on BlackBerry smartphones.
Developers who successfully get their mobile applications into the Storefront will get to keep 80 percent of their revenue, whereas those selling applications for Apple's iPhone or Google's Android handsets get to keep 70 percent of revenue.
David Meyer of ZDNet UK reported from London.
(Credit:
BlackBerry)
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Mike Lazaridis, Research In Motion's co-founder and co-CEO, has just given the 700 registered developers at the first-ever BlackBerry Developer Conference sound but strange advice. The key to successful BlackBerry development isn't just good programming, Lazaridis told the room, it's physics.
Very specific physics, it turns out. Lazaridis pointed to an image of a box with the words Bandwidth, Capacity, Performance, and Battery Life, written in each corner. These are the four principles of BlackBerry's "physics," he said. If developers push too hard to achieve high broadband speeds, for instance, capacity drops. On individual devices, there is a trade-off between battery life and performance.
"This is one box that it's wise not to think outside," Lazaridis joked.
Lazaridis' insight is one reason that scores of developers have gathered at the Silicon Valley conference. Another is meeting with technical experts for hands-on advice to ready their applications for the sleek BlackBerry Bold and touch-screen BlackBerry Storm--slated to hit stores within the next few weeks--and for the BlackBerry application store--anticipated to debut in March 2009.
The on-device BlackBerry Application Center and online BlackBerry Application Storefront will make it easier for the 20 million BlackBerry users on all platforms to find and download add-on applications for their specific phone models.
... Read more- prev
- 1
- next
