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Themes Coming to BlackBerry App World November 9?

Categories: BlackBerry, Rumors, Themes
By: , IntoMobile
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 8:08 AM

So far, the BlackBerry App World has been a destination solely for software, but word has it on November 9, conveniently the first day of the BlackBerry Developer Conference, the on-device portal will expand to include theme sales. This is a great move, and will immediately differentiate the App World from the stores on other platforms, though the approval process will be something of a sticking point for developers who are used to simply hosting the theme files and letting users have at it. Considering how much trouble unstable themes can be for your BlackBerry, though, I wouldn’t mind the extra layer of quality control. What I am worried about is BPlay simply steamrolling all other theme developers on App World thanks to their tight relationship with RIM. I guess we’ll see what the selection is like at the BBDC.

[via BBCool]

About The Author

Simon Sage

Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.

  • Kyle

    I’m not sure who exactly will be submitting themes but I can tell you that it will be a closed portal. They are only going to open up theme submissions for companies who are alliance members. At least to begin with.

    But you know what? Good. Themes can easily ruin a device by making it slow and unresponsive. It’s best that someone who has been in the business for a long time gets exclusivity.

    I’m sure they’ll open it up to other individual developers at some point, but it will be Alliance only for the foreseeable future.