As you may have noticed over the weekend, the latest edition of BlackBerry App World has been launched. BlackBerry App World 2.0, supports new payment options, includes improved app discovery and search features and introduces a new user identification system called BlackBerry ID.
The following features have been added to BlackBerry App World 2.0:
– New Payment Options
o In addition to PayPal, customers will be able to purchase applications using major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Starting in the US, certain carriers will also allow purchases by their customers to be applied directly to the customer’s monthly bill from the carrier. Further carrier partners will be announced in due course.
– Easier Application Discovery
o New tabbed sections for lists of application mean users can horizontally swipe or scroll to quickly view the Top 25 Free Apps, Top 25 Paid Apps and Top 25 Themes, as well as lists of Newest Apps and Recently Updated Apps.
o QR barcode scanning is also supported, allowing users to scan a QR code associated with an application from anywhere – the web, print ads, brochures, etc. BlackBerry App World will quickly find the related application and automatically open the application’s information and download page.
– BlackBerry ID
o BlackBerry ID is a new user identification system that can be used with BlackBerry App World. With BlackBerry ID, which is device independent, users can simply enter their password to access their personal library of both free and purchased apps through the My World folder within BlackBerry App World 2.0.o BlackBerry ID can also (optionally) keep an encrypted record of the user’s billing information, including all credit card, PayPal and carrier account information, and allow the user to simply enter their BlackBerry ID password and select their payment preference when purchasing a new app.
– Vendor Updates
o A series of new features for vendors include the addition of a Vendor Credit System, credit history visibility, credit promo codes, change request management, the ability to override application and vendor names, and application language management features to include all languages supported by BlackBerry.
You will also start to notice apps coming in at a price of $0.99 as developers start to list their apps at the new lowest pricing tier.
The newest version of BlackBerry App World is available for beta preview from BlackBerry Beta Zone (www.blackberry.com/beta) as well as www.blackberry.com/appworld and mobile.blackberry.com. BlackBerry App World users will receive an upgrade notification on their BlackBerry App World icon.