Research In Motion (RIM) today opened the BlackBerry App World
vendor portal to begin accepting BlackBerry PlayBook apps from
developers.
In addition, RIM outlined how developers can become eligible to
get a free BlackBerry PlayBook if their app is submitted and
approved for distribution on BlackBerry App World prior to the
launch of BlackBerry PlayBook in North America. RIM's 7-inch
PlayBook will launch in the first quarter of 2011, in a bid to
challenge the dominance of Apple's iPad.
"The BlackBerry PlayBook provides a platform that appeals to a
wide range of mobile app developers, including Adobe AIR and
Flash developers, HTML web developers, corporate developers and
application hobbyists," said Tyler Lessard, VP Global Alliances &
Developer Relations at Research In Motion.
RIM also recently released an update to the Beta version of the
BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR. The update now supports a
preview release of Flash Builder 4.5 and the Flex mobile
framework that work with either Flash Builder 4 or the preview
version of Flash Builder 4.5. Support for Flash Builder Burrito
adds drag and drop capabilities, making it even easier and faster
for developers to build applications for the BlackBerry PlayBook.
The latest Beta of the SDK also supports Windows in 64-bit and
includes a simulator for Linux.
Research in Motion claims also that the software in its
forthcoming tablet will eventually find its way into its flagship
BlackBerry line of smartphones.