What’s not so good about the BlackBerry App Center

Committing to a firm date of March 2009, RIM announced today it, too, would have an app store at its super-fun RIM BBDC (BlackBerry Developement Center). Just like the cool kids from Apple and Google, users can shop for applications to bring new functionality or just time wasters to their phones. Developers can begin submitting applications to RIM come this December. In what appears to be an obvious attempt to thumb its nose at Apple with a, “whatever you can do, I can do better” attitude RIM will only keep 20% of the revenue brought in as opposed to Apples crushing 30%.

Your boss might still want you to work.

Users will have to navigate PayPal for the purchase of apps, which could make the ride a little bumpy from a diminutive screen (assuming everyone isn’t upgrading to the Storm if it shows). What’s more, in a move to be uber-business friendly to your corporate IT, running BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Professional Software, can make sure you can’t get any games, just like on your laptop. Hmmmphf.

Phones would be great if there were no telecoms.

Oddly, RIM is making a point in trying to get the App Center on phones at their carriers. It is not a given that just because RIM is putting time and money into this that the carriers will go along. Always the, “what’s in it for me” from the Telecoms. So, unless RIM cuts the carriers in or wows them with a better value proposition, the App Center may not be something we see on phones from the likes of Verizon and AT&T.

The new RIM.

Despite my tongue-in-cheek remarks above, I love what RIM is trying to do as of late. More devices, more styles, more choices. The App Center is a natural progression of these concepts and the devices will be better for it. It bears repeating to all the RIM/Apple/WinMo haters: a rising tide lifts all boats.

Sign up to learn more about the Center [RIM]