Create Super Apps with Help and Resources from BlackBerry

fact sheet Vendor: Research In Motion (RIM) (www.rim.com) Vendor's Information: About BlackBerry Super Apps About BlackBerry vendor resources Enter the BlackBerry Super App Developer Challenge The BlackBerry platform lets you create Super Apps that are seamlessly integrated, contextualized and efficient—to help people do what they love, every day. Learn more about these indispensible Super Apps and see how you could make the next app people can't stop talking about.

There are millions of mobile applications available for the latest smartphones and they range from free applications with a limited audience to mobile applications that charge a fee. Their developers range from coders working solo in their spare time or tinkering with a new platform to experienced developers at some of the world's largest media companies.

With ABI Research estimating that smartphone sales increased 20 percent in 2009, the number of mobile application downloads has nowhere to go but up. ABI estimates 2.3 billion mobile applications were downloaded in 2009, and it expects that number to increase to 5 billion by 2014.

Create a Super App that Users Can't Live Without BlackBerry lets you create Super Apps with a seamlessly integrated, contextualized and efficient experience that people will find invaluable every day. Develop the next Super App and win prizes to help boost your app-building business. Enter the BlackBerry Super App Developer Challenge today.

The most popular mobile applications are highly engaging, relevant applications that are always on and deeply integrated with the smartphone and its native applications like the calendar, inbox, or address book. Research In Motion (RIM), creator of the BlackBerry® smartphone and its BlackBerry® Application Platform, calls the most popular mobile applications Super Apps.

A Super App is sticky. It is loved by its users, who use it every day. It also leverages the unique capabilities of the BlackBerry platform. It offers a seamless, integrated, contextualized, and efficient experience for its users. It's easy on its battery and network usage so as not to slow down the device or the user. A Super App might run in the background waiting for a certain event or data to trigger its action. It might also be an extension, such as a new menu item, for the device's calendar or inbox.

According to RIM, the key features that all Super Apps share include:

• The always-on experience
• Tight integration with native apps
• Proactive and notification driven
• Highly contextualized
• Social and connected
• Designed for efficiency

Most BlackBerry users don't have to look far to find a Super App. BlackBerry smartphone email, instant messaging, and BlackBerry® Messenger are great examples. Facebook® for BlackBerry® smartphones and MySpace® for BlackBerry® smartphones feature alerting, native application integration, social connectivity, and more. More examples are available in BlackBerry App World™.

Developing Your Super App

Experienced software developers can take a couple of approaches to developing applications for the BlackBerry platform. The route you choose to take will depend on your experience and the languages you like to use, but RIM works to make sure your BlackBerry application has connectivity and security regardless of how you create it.

If you're new to BlackBerry development but have the experience to create advanced applications, then BlackBerry Web development might be the right choice for you. It allows you to create browser-based applications that are easy to deploy. It takes advantage of industry standards like HTML and AJAX, and it lets you push data to BlackBerry devices and leverage offline queuing.

Java™ application development for the BlackBerry platform provides flexibility, power, and control. Developers can use Java to create standards-based applications using MIDP 2.0 and CLDC 1.1 or RIM's extensive UI Library. Developers can create Java applications in a variety of different development environments including Eclipse and NetBeans.

Support and Resources

RIM has a number of resources available for developers that are designed to support BlackBerry application development:

• Developer Forums provide a place for developers to find answers to questions and get help from RIM employees and partners.
• Tutorials for Java and Web application development provide step-by-step guides for developers. Documentation that covers application development and testing is available online.
• Developer Services provides information on carrier developer programs and helps developers find organizations to help develop, test, and distribute BlackBerry smartphone applications.

Programs are available from RIM to support students, ISVs, and systems integrators.

• The BlackBerry Academic Program can offer BlackBerry courses as part of curriculum, providing hands-on skills and knowledge to students.
• The BlackBerry ISV Alliance Program helps independent software vendors deliver BlackBerry solutions with the support of a formal program designed for ISVs. Its specialized support from RIM includes help with development, marketing, training, and sales.
• BlackBerry Solution Provider and System Integrators Alliance Programs deliver help with development, marketing, sales, and training support so you can offer customers professional services related to the BlackBerry platform.

Mobile application development is possibly the hottest area in software development today, and the resources and programs available for the BlackBerry platform all but eliminate barriers to entry. Developing the next Super App can open up new revenue opportunities and increase brand awareness for your business.

If you're still not excited by the possibilities, RIM is increasing the financial incentive with the 2010 Super Apps Developer Challenge. This year RIM is offering more than $1.5 million in prizes that will help build success for your app, including developer services from leading industry partners, featured placements on BlackBerry App World, marketing programs from RIM, and more.

The challenge is open to new and existing applications submitted to BlackBerry App World by Sept. 6, 2010.