by Al Sacco

BlackBerry App World Expected to Get Secure Enterprise Features This Summer

Opinion
May 04, 20112 mins
MobileSmall and Medium Business

A recent rumor suggests RIM's consumer-oriented BlackBerry App World mobile appstore will soon get some new enterprise features.

Research In Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry App World mobile software shop has to this point been largely meant for use by consumers, or enterprise users with few BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) IT policies blocking the installation of potentially harmful applications. But that could soon change, according to a new report.

BlackBerry Torch 9800 with Padlock (Image Credit: Brian Sacco)
BlackBerry Torch 9800 with Padlock (Image Credit: Brian Sacco)

The upcoming version of RIM’s app store, BlackBerry App World 3.0, will reportedly have a new section for enterprises, to help IT administrators manage and secure their users’ BlackBerry apps while also providing access to RIM’s catalogue of App World software.

Few specifics on the features are known at this point, but the purported business-oriented additions include a business-specific channel within App World. And BES admins will be able to manage this new channel.

The enterprise App World channel is expected to become available in late July or early August, and it will reportedly be released for BlackBerry smartphones first with PlayBook tablet support coming at a later time.

The report is just a rumor, but such an addition to BlackBerry App World seems like a logical next step for RIM, which is already working a number of new ways to allow corporate BlackBerry users to employ their smartphones for both work and play, without compromising security, including the new BlackBerry Balance.

AS

via N4BB.com

Al Sacco covers Mobile and Wireless for CIO.com. Follow Al on Twitter @ASacco. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline and on Facebook. Email Al at asacco@cio.com