Amazon app store coming to Blackberry

BlackBerry users who upgrade to the 10.3 operating system this fall will get access to the Amazon Appstore.

This will give BlackBerry users more than 240,000 Android apps when it becomes available. It will also close down its own video and music stores when it makes the switch.

The last market report in December 2013 showed that 37 per cent of phone users in Bermuda had a BlackBerry, so this is great news for them. 

Some of the apps that will become available include: Netflix, Pinterest, Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft.

BlackBerry, which has seen its market share slip in the US below three per cent, is struggling against Android and Apple competitors. 

 John Chen, BlackBerry executive chairman and CEO, said in a release: “Making the Amazon Appstore available on BlackBerry 10 devices will help BlackBerry continue to meet two essential needs: greater app availability for our smartphone users and enhanced productivity solutions for enterprises.

 “We’ve listened to our customers and have taken this important step to deliver on their needs, while executing on our strategy.”

BlackBerry and Amazon will be working with the BlackBerry application developer community to help them migrate their apps to the Amazon Appstore in preparation for the 10.3 launch.

This will include Appstore Developer Select, which provides enhanced merchandising, as well as Amazon Coins incentives, the Developer Promotions Console, which enables real-time pricing adjustments and specials, and the Free App of the Day programme.