RESEARCH In Motion will finally unveil paid applications on its BlackBerry App World Australia online store “later this year”.<\/p>\n
Developers will have their revenue split decreased by 10 per cent, matching Apple’s structure for applications and games sold on iTunes.<\/p>\n
Free apps debuted on App World Australia in December and local developers have been waiting with bated breath for the paid version.<\/p>\n
But since then RIM executives have consistently said the paid offering would be unveiled “soon”, without revealing further details.<\/p>\n
BlackBerry users in 13 countries have been able to buy applications since April 2009 while 42 countries are with the free-only version.<\/p>\n
PayPal was the sole payment method but the paid store will also accept credit cards and carrier billing.<\/p>\n
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With carrier billing, purchases would appear on the buyer’s telco bill.<\/p>\n
Telstra, Optus and other local telcos are in talks with RIM to provide carrier billing services, said Tyler Lessard, RIM global alliances and developer relations vice-president.<\/p>\n
“We’re talking to all our carrier partners in Australia for paid apps,” Mr Lessard said during RIM’s Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES) in Orlando, Florida.<\/p>\n
He refused to say more when pressed for a specific month or quarter, but said paid apps would be available “later this year”.<\/p>\n
RIM would still proceed to launch with PayPal and credit card billing if telcos don’t come to the party in time, he said.<\/p>\n
The current revenue split of 80:20 will change to 70:30 later this year.<\/p>\n
The move will help RIM expand App World’s payment options and enter new markets.<\/p>\n
“This changed about a week ago and we’ve briefed our developers,” Mr Lessard said.<\/p>\n
BigTinCan CEO David Keane welcomed the move despite the 10 per cent cut.<\/p>\n
“It takes the headache out of billing for developers … this is a pretty fair move,” Mr Keane said.<\/p>\n
The Sydney-based mobile application development firm already has several apps for sale on the US App World site such as BuzzMe.<\/p>\n
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