RIM unveils new version of BlackBerry App World

Research In Motion has put screenshots online showing the new features of the renewed BlackBerry App World. The web store for BlackBerry applications will have a different category layout and improved search functions.

The most visible change in the BlackBerry App World 3.0 is the opening screen. New is, among other things, a direct search option for applications, games and themes that are for sale in the web store. Various sorting options have also been added, making it easier to distinguish between free and paid applications and games, for example.

By adding different lists of well-run apps, themes and games, it becomes clear that RIM is trying to get even more revenue from the App World store. The possibility to send messages directly from the App World application, to promote a specific game or an interesting app on Twitter and Facebook, points in that direction.

The new BlackBerry App World 3.0 environment is currently available for beta download. Other innovations, according to RIM, are improved user account management, paid subscriptions via a BBID and a new barcode scanner.