BlackBerry maker to open new online store

WATERLOO, Ontario, March 6 (UPI) -- Canadian smart-phone pioneer Research In Motion said its new online application store will be online by March 4.

The store's Web site, poised to rival Apple Inc.'s AppStore, is called BlackBerry App World. It replaces the company's previous online store, App Center, National Business Review reported Friday.

The Web site promises a convenient location for BlackBerry owners to download "games, social networks, personal productivity applications and so much more."

"Message your best friend, track the stock market or channel your inner rock god," the Web site says.

The pricing plan runs from free downloads to costly ones, Business Review said.

The system, which accepts only PayPal for payments, includes price options that start at $2.99, higher than AppStore's starting prices of 99 cents, the report said.

Price options also run up to $999, suggesting RIM will push high-end downloads through the store.

To access the store, BlackBerry users will need to have a least a Version 4.2 operating system on their phones.

Following the success of AppStore, other technology firms, such as Microsoft Corp. and Nokia are also preparing online stores, the report said.