Recently RIM announced that they will be releasing BlackBerry App World 2.0 in the near future. App World has been a big hit in the BlackBerry community, because it is a large high-traffic depot for BlackBerry apps. BlackBerry users can find a myriad of applications in one place rather than having to scour the Web, while developers have a consolidated storefront in which to sell their applications. Unfortunately, when App World launched, there was not a very large selection of applications, and there were some issues with how it handled the applications it installed. App World 2.0 promises a better interface, better organization, carrier billing, QR code scanning, and a new service called Blackberry ID.
Organization
Among other things, RIM promised a more useful interface in App World 2.0. Much like competing app stores, App World will include Top 25 Apps and Themes lists. You will be able to see what the most popular themes and applications are instead of seeing top themes and applications intermingled in one list. RIM also promised that the search engine will provide more accurate results.
Carrier Billing and Credit Card Charges
Since App World opened, the only way to pay for applications was via PayPal. RIM has incorporated carrier billing in App World 2.0, so you can bill purchases to your carrier, and they will show up on your cellular bill. You can also choose to use a major credit card for your purchases. These features are sure to attract customers who do not use PayPal.
QR Codes
If you frequently browse App World from your PC, App World 2.0's QR code scanning feature (like the one in Blackberry Messenger) will save you a lot of time. When you find an application you want to use in App World on the Web, you can use your BlackBerry's camera to scan the application's QR code, and it will load in App World on your device.
BlackBerry ID
RIM will incorporate a new service, BlackBerry ID, into App World 2.0. BlackBerry ID is a universal login that saves a BlackBerry user's purchase and download data. If you have to switch BlackBerry devices, all you need to do is log into App World with your BlackBerry ID on the new device, and you will be able to automatically install all of your applications. If your BlackBerry is ever lost or stolen, this will enable you to get up and running on a new one in a matter of minutes.
App World 2.0 promises to fix a lot of the known issues with the current interface, but also offers a few very useful new features. These new features will drive more developers to submit their applications to App World, and in turn, more customers will use it to find the applications they need.