BlackBerry 10 launches with 70,000 apps in store

The BlackBerry 10 OS may have only launched today, but its app store is already bulging with content, with 70,000 apps ready to download.

"We are launching BlackBerry 10 with more apps by far than any other first-generation operating system," said Martyn Mallick, BlackBerry VP of Global Alliances and Business Development.

This final figure is possibly a surprise to BlackBerry staff members themselves, after some predicted that there would be around 30,000 apps ready at the launch of the new platform at the BlackBerry Jam Asia event in December last year.

Mallick explained the surge in the number of apps compatible with the platform by saying that BlackBerry has sponsored "Port-a-thon" events, where developers have been challenged to port apps on rival mobile ecosystems over to BlackBerry 10.

"With the momentum we've built, we'll continue to see thousands of apps added each and every week."

Big-name apps were a specific focus for BlackBerry's developer relations team, and though not all of the big names are present at launch, Mallick did take some time to name a few of the upcoming releases, including Skype, WhatsApp and Amazon Kindle.

Gaming developers on-board for the launch of BlackBerry 10 include EA Games, Disney, Sega, Gameloft and Australia's Halfbrick.

The BlackBerry World store will also host video downloads, music and magazines.

Joseph Hanlon attended the New York event as a guest of BlackBerry.