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Tue, Jan 20, 2009 10:41 EST

Topic: ApplicationsBlog: Mobile WorkHorse
Current Rating: |
Research In Motion (RIM) this week distributed an e-mail to registered BlackBerry developers notifying them that they can now begin submitting mobile applications for possible inclusion in the company's upcoming mobile software distribution channel, the BlackBerry Application Storefront. That store's expected to open in March.
Not to be confused with the BlackBerry Application Center, a carrier-managed, on-device "app store" that's already available to BlackBerry Storm owners, the upcoming App Storefront will be populated and maintained by RIM itself. And it will be available to BlackBerry users based on their current devices and operating systems, instead of wireless carriers. In fact, reports suggest that any and all BlackBerry users running RIM's handheld OS v4.2.1 or higher will have access to the BlackBerry Application Storefront.
Here's some information on the actual application submission process:
This is certainly exciting news for mobile application developers and BlackBerry owners alike—but there's one hitch. I can't help but wonder how long it will take BlackBerry users to begin expressing frustration at the minimal amount of application storage space most current RIM devices offer. Though modern BlackBerry smartphones have as much as 1GB of built-in, or "on-board," memory and support media cards up to 32GB, the storage space that's specifically allotted for apps is much less.
In other words, even though RIM built in plenty of room for apps within most BlackBerry devices, it's not letting you utilize it—at least for storing third-party software.
In fact, RIM's new Curve 8900, which offers the most "application memory," or app-specific storage, of any current BlackBerry handheld, offers just 256MB of space for apps. And other high-end RIM devices like the Bold and Storm provide even less application memory with just 128MB. That's very little storage space, to put it mildly, and that fact is going to become painfully apparent for many BlackBerry users as soon as the new App Storefront opens its virtual doors.
Other comparable smartphones, such as the Apple iPhone 3G, don’t saddle users with the same restrictions; iPhone owners can store whatever they please, in whatever amount, on their devices. And that fact could end up hurting RIM where it counts when all the cards are on the table.
AS
via BlackBerryCool
Hey Andy,
Whether or not RIM can "fix" this issue via software updates and if it will are two very different things.
I suspect RIM could address this issue via software tweaks and at least free up more on-board memory for app storage. But I'm not sure if it will.
Guess we'll just have to wait to see...
AS
"iPhone owners can store whatever they please, in whatever amount, on their devices."
Mobile cloud computing? Wow, color me impressed!
Obviously, the iPhone can only store as much data as will fit within its 8GB/16GB memory. Perhaps my statement wasn't clear.
Oh yeah, "mobile cloud computing" calls for data to be stored in "the cloud," so your comparison to my statement ("...on their devices.") isn't exactly on point.
But thanks for your valuable and insightful comment. Color me impressed....
0_o
AS
"I can't help but wonder how long it will take BlackBerry users to begin expressing frustration at the minimal amount of application storage space most current RIM devices offer."
This is pretty much my one real frustration with BlackBerry, so far. And if RIM expects an application store to be remotely successful, it seriously (and soon) needs to do something to expand the available app-storage space on its BlackBerry devices -- even, ideally, enabling BlackBerries to store apps on microSD cards.
No idea if RIM's given any indication that it's even aware of this issue...