Research in Motion (RIM) has announced that the existing BlackBerry World is to be transformed into a new iTunes store rival for BlackBerry 10 OS platforms.
The new BlackBerry 10 BlackBerry World storefront will now offer music, films and TV shows as well as apps to its users, rivalling the already well-established content providers Apple iTunes and Google Play.
With the BlackBerry 10 launch event now mere days away, future BlackBerry 10 handset owners will have access to video content from a myriad of film studios including Lionsgate, Warner Bros, Universal, and Twentieth Century Fox. According to RIM, movie titles will be available on the BlackBerry World store on their DVD release date, and episodes of current TV series will appear the day after.
All major and independent music labels are also apparently on board with the upgraded BlackBerry World store, and, like the Apple iTunes store, BlackBerry World users will be able to try before they buy with any music tracks.
“Music and video content is an integral part of a rich mobile experience. People want easy and convenient access to their favourite music, movies and TV shows wherever they are,” said Frank Boulben, RIM’s Chief Marketing Officer. “RIM is committed to working with content providers to bring the best, most up-to-date content to our customers with BlackBerry 10, and make it easy for them to get what they want.”
BlackBerry 10 Features
BlackBerry 10 will launch on January 30 and is said to be the make-or-break event for the BlackBerry OS, who is struggling against competition from market leaders Android and Apple iOS.
The BlackBerry 10 OS will be the first fully touch integrated OS from RIM, centred on a new BlackBerry Hub system for email, call and messaging notifications.
BlackBerry 10 handsets will utilise a BlackBerry Flow UI that will allow users to swipe between open apps and menus, as is possible with current iOS handsets such as the iPhone 5.
Will you be buying a new BlackBerry 10 handset? Do you think BlackBerry 10 OS will be enough to continue the BlackBerry legacy? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.