BlackBerry's App World is finally leaving beta status. Now live and available for everyone, the App World 2.0 shift features a variety of beneficial (and overdue) upgrades and services for app shoppers. The alterations include the institution of a more flexible pricing scheme, the welcome arrival of wireless and credit card billing options, and the introduction of 'Top 25' app lists, which users can arrange by theme, release date or update status.
The overhaul also includes two new policies, both of which are already inherent in Android and iPhone devices, and one of which is unlikely to be celebrated. On the positive side, the App World enables
QR capabilities with version 2.0, so that
BlackBerry owners can now "discover new apps by scanning barcodes at events, online, in print or even on your friend's BlackBerry smartphone." The other,
unwelcome for some, iPhone-Android equalizer concerns RIM's revenue-sharing percentages. BlackBerry app developers once enjoyed an unrivaled 80/20 percentage split, but RIM is
selling out following the lead of its smartphone competitors by implementing a 70/30 plan. Hey, someone has to pay for all those renovations.