BlackBerry App Center: Coming Soon!

As I’ve said before, even if Android fails miserably, Google still will have accomplished the desired effect of drastically accelerating the proliferation of the mobile web. After Google announced Android we saw the iPhone App Store, announcement of Android Market and now… BlackBerry App Center.

The App Center news seems to have slipped along with information of the upcoming BlackBerry Storm touchscreen phone. That device is launching on Vodafone and Verizon Wireless sometime in November and a screen shot of the new RIM OS 4.7 on the BlackBerry Storm serves as the proof:

Take a look at the rumored “features” of the device:

Check out the feature list:

• The Application Center will be available on 4.7 Storm devices and will be designed for the Storm touch screen UI.
• Carriers will be responsible for hosting the application data and sending updates to the directory to RIM.
• The main application screen will provide the user with a list of all applications that are available for install from the particular carrier for the specific device model and OS version. Incompatible applications will not be displayed.
• The main screen will provide the user the ability to quickly browse the application list, then view the available information about each application in a detailed description screen which shows the logo and full description. Installation will occur with one click (launches the web browser).
• The user will be able to access the Options > Applications screen from within the App Center (allowing the user to delete applications directly from within the App Center).
• The user will be provided with various status info: date the app list was most recently updated; notification that updates are available; option to reapplication list was completed, etc.
• Since the download and installation will be handled by the browser in this first release, the Application Center will not be capable of restarting the application / download intelligently.
• The Application Center will automatically check for updates daily.

Uhoh… will the BlackBerry Storm be an immediate T-Mobile G1 competitor, offering an equally competitive catalog of applications? Check out the second bullet:

Carriers will be responsible for hosting the application data and sending updates to the directory to RIM.

So basically, the “App Center” is just BlackBerry putting a trendy title and cleaner UI on Verizon’s various Get It Now! Services. SUCH a disappointment.

To be honest, we were nervous about T-Mobile and other carriers crippling Android and the Android Market. Its one thing to have full functionality and the carrier TAKING AWAY functionality and options on purpose. But with the BlackBerry App Center, it appears the carrier has to be the source of putting Application on the market to begin with. Hmmmm.

Verizon did launch a developer program earlier this year (or maybe late last year) but we have seen absolutely ZILCH from it. It seems as though this “App Center” was built specifically for the Storm OS but that it is just the start of something larger?

Whatever RIM has up their sleeve… we’re happy to see this development. We’re not Pro-Android and Anti-Everything-Else as it seems many iPhone Fanboys are. We appreciate the forward thinking of Apple and now RIM… they are both working to drastically improve the capabilities and options available to consumers. SO much is possible and we’re just now starting to unlock all of the potential.

It doesn’t seem like the iPhone App Store or BlackBerry App Center will come close to the openness and flexibility of Android and the Android Market. But, if the success of Android pushes Apple and RIM to move in that direction, it will be a great success for the OHA and a big win for consumers.