BlackBerry App World finally hits 1 billion downloads
updated 04:20 pm EDT, Tue July 12, 2011
BlackBerry App World hits 1b downloads since 2008
BlackBerry App World, RIM's online software program store for its BlackBerry smartphones and the PlayBook tablet, has now reached one billion total downloads. The store was launched in April of 2009 and represents a relatively slow growth. Apple, for example, posted about 15 billion sales last week since the launch of its App Store in July of 2008.
To put Apple's numbers into perspective, five billion of that total was achieved in the last six months, so the App Store nearly achieved in each of those last six months what RIM has in more than two years. The Android Market, in comparison, reached 4.5 billion app downloads in June and was launched at the end of October, 2008.
Reasons for the slow development haven't ever been officially given, but multiple rough development sets and a lack of clear guidance have been common factors. PlayBook developers have complained about a lack of explanation and the need to pay for a copy of VMware Fusion just to start working. The platform itself has also been an issue; BlackBerry devices won't have full 3D support until BlackBerry 7 ships alongside the Bold 9900 in late summer. Gaming dominates mobile apps and has been instrumental to iOS' rise.
BlackBerry App World 3.0 is coming soon, RIM promises, with the beta version due to start later in July. Vendor Portal 3.0 is now out. [via CrackBerry]
