BlackBerry App World Icon

The news of the much anticipated App World CTIA launch broke last week, but the move was more-or-less expected as RIM had previously stated that App World would open in March.

You can download the BlackBerry App World client using the BlackBerry browser from Mobile.BlackBerry.com and BlackBerry.com/AppWorld. (Wireless carriers may also push an App World link to customers' home screens for easy access.)

I haven't had the time to put App World through the motions quite yet, but you can expect a full review in the very near future. Until then, here's what we now know about BlackBerry App World, as well as a dozen images of what the new software store looks like and how it works.

• -BlackBerry App World software will sell for $2.99 and up, though free apps will also be available
  
  
• -A PayPal account is required to purchase apps from BlackBerry App World, though free software can be downloaded without PayPal.
  
  
• -The BlackBerry App World home screen offers 1) Featured Apps; 2) a Categories icon that lets you navigate apps by "genre" i.e., Games or Music and Video; 3) a Top Downloads link for quick access to the most popular apps; 4) a dedicated Search function; and 5) a My World icon, which lets you access your account information and view/install/uninstall your App World software.
  
  
• -App World users can scroll left and right on the home screen to view different Featured Apps.
  
  
• -The Search bar on specific Categories pages helps find exactly what you seek.
  
  
• -After finding an application of interest, you can click its name to display additional details, such as the app maker, price, ratings and screen shots.
  
  
• -Once you locate an app, you can purchase it via PayPal with just a few clicks: one click for the Download button, another for the PayPal login screen--you must also enter your account information--and you're good to go.
  
  
• -You can write application reviews directly from the My World screen on your device.
  
  
• -If you purchase a new handset, any and all apps you bought from App World can be transferred to the new device free of charge to as many as three devices per year.
  
  
• -Any and all apps you purchase can be deleted from your device and reinstalled as many times as you please, so App World also works as a virtual storage unit for software you download of purchase through the store.

  On to BlackBerry App World Images >>