News

RIM adds carrier and credit card billing in App World update

But developers' revenue share is cut by 10 percent

RIM adds carrier and credit card billing in App World update
In an attempt to make purchasing apps as easy a process as possible, RIM has updated its App World developer agreement to allow both carrier and credit card billing.

The new forms of billing will provide BlackBerry customers with what is arguably a more straightforward payment system. RIM is expected to sign deals with individual carriers in the near future.

Many developers had previously claimed the default PayPal set-up put users off making the spur of the moment purchases that Apple's App Store thrives on.

Pay as you go-go

As such, the move is undoubtedly an attempt by RIM to make BlackBerry a more user and developer-friendly platform. However, the company has also revealed it will be cutting the revenue share offered to developers from 80 to 70 percent.

This brings App World in line with both the App Store and Android Marketplace, although BlackBerry developers will no doubt be concerned regarding the potential hit on their profits the cut represents.

In turn, RIM will be hoping the increased downloads generated by the new billing methods will offset any potential drop in developer revenue.

The news follows an update to the App World vendor portal made earlier this month, RIM having revealed all such changes back at the BlackBerry Developers Conference in November last year.

[source: Crackberry.com]

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.