New BlackBerry App World opens for devs Oct 10, groups media downloads
BlackBerry unveils downloadable content for its app store, BlackBerry App World, and entices developers with $10,000.
SAN JOSE, Calif.--Today at BlackBerry's developers conference and press event, Alec Saunders, vice president of developer relations, announced a new download feature for its mobile OS' app store, BlackBerry App World.
Grouping together its media content into one portal, BlackBerry will allows users to rent or buy both music and movies right through the store. They can also download and watch offline multimedia content.
Touting the popularity of BlackBerry's app store, Saunders dived deeper into the store's offering.
In addition to demoing BlackBerry 10's native Facebook app, which utilizes the OS' new "peek" gesture, he also rattled off a list of established partnerships with well-known app developers, including the gaming company, Halfbrick (which created the popular Fruit Ninja game), publishing companies like Wired and Elle, and media companies such as Slacker Radio.
Developer submissions for the new OS kickoff on October 10, 2012, (also known as "10-10 for BlackBerry 10").
In order to lure new developers and reward loyal ones, Saunders unveiled the company's "10K developer commitment program" as well.
To qualify the program, developers must follow three steps. They first must be approved through the Built for BlackBerry certification program. Their apps then must be submitted by the deadline, January 21, 2013. Lastly, the app must generate a minimum of $1,000 over a period of 12 months.
If developers fulfill these standards and their apps do not make $10,000 by the first 12 months of launch, BlackBerry will cut a check for the difference.
Saunders went on to note that BlackBerry developers generate more revenue for their apps compared with other OS': 4 percent more than on iOS and 35 percent more than on Android.
Currently, 3 billion BlackBerry apps have been downloaded from App World, and 105,000 apps are now available in the store.
Be sure to check back with CNET throughout the day as BlackBerry Jam Americas continues and there's more to come.