| Although the BlackBerry is absolutely everywhere, | | | | developer's costs. |
| you'd have to be living under a rock to not have | | | | Download Method # 2: Online BlackBerry App |
| heard of the iPhone's amazing success. If the | | | | "Retailers" |
| iPhone's App Store is the heart of its popularity, | | | | The good: There are tons of websites out there |
| then BlackBerry users better have some rebuttal. | | | | that sell software for all kinds of mobile devices, |
| Few people seem to know it, but they do. Many | | | | including the BlackBerry. The good news about |
| of the BlackBerry apps out there are free, easy | | | | this is that you can shop around different online |
| to download, and do the very things you always | | | | stores the same way you might browse at |
| wished your phone could do. Calendars, specialized | | | | different clothing stores. You can find a store that |
| calculators, games, reference guides, news feeds | | | | you like that sells software the suits you and |
| and social networking software are just a few | | | | your needs. A lot is free and the ones you have |
| examples of the power a BlackBerry has, but a | | | | to pay for generally are very high quality. |
| lot of people have yet to take advantage of. | | | | Technical support is quite good, especially for the |
| Download Method # 1: BlackBerry App World | | | | paid apps. It's all about specialization and the ability |
| The good: The BlackBerry App World is RIM's | | | | to offer infinity different types of software for |
| official challenge to the iPhone's App Store. You | | | | your BlackBerry. |
| can purchase (if the software isn't free, and most | | | | How to use it: Start at These sites will link to |
| is free) and download software right onto your | | | | others where you can continue your search. |
| BlackBerry when you're on the go. It works | | | | Different sites have different delivery methods. |
| anywhere and installs "Over-the-Air" meaning no | | | | Many of them use an Over-the-Air system like |
| computer is involved, just your phone downloading | | | | the App World. |
| the software directly from the internet over the | | | | The bad: If you're looking for an extremely |
| cellular network (or WiFi). | | | | advanced app, use the App World. Sometimes |
| How to use it: Go to the RIM website and search | | | | installation processes are not that simple, but |
| for the App World. It will give you a web address | | | | usually you will not have problems. |
| for installation. Simply open that website in your | | | | Download Method # 3: Google, Google, Google |
| BlackBerry's browser. From there, you can | | | | The good: If it exists, you can find it. If it doesn't |
| download the App World onto your phone | | | | exist, you'll probably be able to find something |
| Over-the-Air. Once it's installed, you can begin | | | | very similar. That is to say, you'll find what you're |
| downloading apps to your heart's content! | | | | looking for 99 times out of 100. No matter how |
| The bad: First of all, it's not compatible with all | | | | specialized, someone has likely made it and you |
| BlackBerrys. The newer ones can use it, but if | | | | can find it. It may or may not be free, but |
| yours is an "experienced" model, it's likely | | | | BlackBerry software is generally fairly-priced. It'll |
| incompatible. The BlackBerry App World is not as | | | | be rare to pay more than an admission to the |
| open to individual developers as the Apple App | | | | movies. Finally, you'll almost certainly able to find a |
| Store. Now, although the really big-name software | | | | version that works with your BlackBerry model. |
| that you use is often from a large company (say | | | | How to use it: Guess how. Start from Google (or |
| a Facebook app), the most popular mobile apps | | | | another search engine like Yahoo, etc.) and search |
| out there tend to be from more "boutique" | | | | "(insert what you want) for blackberry." Different |
| developers and the more useful tools tend to be | | | | sites will have different delivery methods. Many of |
| less mainstream since they have to be, by | | | | them will be an Over-the-Air download. Some of |
| definition, more specialized. For this reason, it may | | | | them may also let you plug your BlackBerry into |
| be best to look elsewhere for a special piece of | | | | your computer via USB and click a button with |
| software you just can't find on the BlackBerry | | | | your mouse to install it. All of this will be explained |
| App World. In addition, apps on the App World will | | | | on the individual sites. |
| generally tend to be more expensive than | | | | The bad: If you don't know what you're looking |
| elsewhere (if it is a paid app) because RIM | | | | for, you might get lost! |
| charges fees and commissions that add to a | | | | |