BlackBerry finally launches App World in Pakistan

[SHAMK9]

KARACHI: After a three-year wait, Research in Motion has finally launched the highly-anticipated App World – the official store for applications – for BlackBerry-toting customers in Pakistan, according to its local partner Emitac Mobile Solutions (EMS).
The Canada based manufacturer of Blackberry smart phones had earlier enabled the App World on a test-basis in February for a day in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Blackberry users are now able to access the application, according to details posted on its website on Monday and later confirmed by EMS – the manufacturer’s support partner – in a statement on Tuesday.
More than six million apps are downloaded daily across the globe from BlackBerry’s App World.
“It was bound to happen,” said a telecom source who requested anonymity. While commenting on the development, he said RIM’s intentions were clear from the test launch in February. The rising popularity of Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android-powered phones, the source said, may have forced this development.
Smartphones are more about applications, according to experts. RIM was slow to open its doors as iPhone and Android-powered phones gave its Pakistani users unlimited access to their application stores – Apple’s App Store and Android Marketplace, respectively.
BlackBerry once dominated the North American market for smartphones, boasting more than a 50 per cent share of the market but now sits just under 15 per cent in the US, according to market research firm Neilsen. But the company continues to do well throughout the world where its BBM service is popular, according to research group Canalys.
“We are very excited to be part of the App World launch in Pakistan,” said EMS CEO Babar Khan in the statement. Launched in April 2009 in US, Canada and UK, App World is now available in over 130 countries. App World allows access to third-party applications while paid ones can be purchased using valid PayPal accounts and credit cards.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2012.
BlackBerry launches App World in Pakistan – The Express Tribune

 

[Respect4Respect01]

cool,

but i hate blackberry now, iPhone next time for me.

 

[Rusty]

cool,

but i hate blackberry now, iPhone next time for me.

iphone is crap.
Android is the way

 

[Peregrine]

iphone is crap.
Android is the way

Seriously?
Android doesn't even offer half of Apps that are there on IOS.

 

[Respect4Respect01]

iphone is crap.
Android is the way

i had iphone before, it was great, now i have blackberry bold which is ok but no where near iphone.

 

[p(-)0ENiX]

Research in Motion has done too little too late. The Blackberry App World wasn't available in Saudi Arabia either black when I used Blackberry. I don't know if it's available here at the moment though. Anyway it's nice that they have introduced the App World in Pakistan. Unfortunately Blackberry tremendously lags behind their competitors, & as the article suggests; they are probably going to introduce their App World to as many markets as possible as a desperate attempt to protect their market share.

RIM has to ensure the availability of high quality apps of all their different kinds throughout the world if they wish to become competitive in the smart phone market once again. I am sure this will benefit our economy too by promoting online shopping & by making it easier for Pakistani companies to market their apps in Pakistan via the App World. Pepper.pk is a nice example of a Pakistani company making applications for mobile platforms.

I prefer the iPhone though, & iOS to me is the best smartphone OS ever. The only thing I miss from my Blackberry is the Blackberry Messenger (BBM). Whatsapp is a very nice replacement, but it still lacks some of the useful features of the Blackberry Messenger.