Research In Motion Launches App Store

Updated from 12:30 a.m. EDT

By Peter Svensson

LAS VEGAS -- Research in Motion(RIMM), the maker of BlackBerry phones, is set to launch its one-stop shop for add-on applications on Wednesday.

While third-party programs have long been available for BlackBerrys from many sources, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company is now following in Apple's (AAPL)footstep by creating and operating a central store. Every other major company in the "smart" phone industry is doing the same.

BlackBerry App World will be available for download from RIM's Web site starting at midday, said BlackBerry Co-CEO Jim Balsillie. A thousand applications will be available at launch.

TheStreet.com's (TSCM)"Street for BlackBerry" application is available at the app store.

BlackBerry Meets TheStreet.com

Unlike Apple's App Store, BlackBerry App World will share revenue with cellphone carriers and allow them to profile themselves by setting up their own stores-within-the-store, Balsillie said. It also will be possible for customers to charge application purchases to their cellphone bill, if their carrier chooses to enable that function.

Microsoft (MSFT) on Tuesday announced that carrier stores and billing will be part of its Windows Marketplace for Mobile, an applications store that will launch with new phones toward the end of the year.

Nokia(NOK), the world's largest maker of cell phones, has several application stores but said earlier this year that it would combine them into one. Google (GOOG) runs an Android Marketplace of programs for the T-Mobile G1 phone, which will be joined by other phones running Google's Android software this year.

The launch of App World coincides with a speech by RIM's other co-CEO, Mike Lazaridis, at a cellphone trade show that starts in Las Vegas on Wednesday. He plans to profile the BlackBerry as a music-playing device, an important capability now that RIM is taking it from a business-oriented e-mail device to a mainstream smart phone competing with the iPhone.