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What about BlackBerry apps?

In the beginning . . .

When I started covering apps on this web site in September 2009, I originally covered apps for both iPhone and BlackBerry. At that time, there were several iPhone legal apps and six (6) BlackBerry legal apps.

As of mid-November 2009, there are now several dozen more iPhone legal apps and still just six (6) BlackBerry apps.

I asked an app maker why?

I asked one of the developers of legal apps on iTunes why there are so few (and no new) BlackBerry legal apps.  He said BlackBerry's perceived market potential is smaller and BlackBerry's devices do not have a standard interface, meaning it would be hard to design an app that would work on all BlackBerry devices.

BlackBerry is missing the boat

On October 26, 2009, NPR's Renee Montagne interviewed Mario Armstrong ("Verizon's Droid Phone to Compete with iPhone."). Armstrong explained that apps (as opposed to a phone's hardware) are becoming the most important feature on a phone. To listen to the interview, click here.

If apps are going to be as big as I believe, BlackBerry is missing the boat by not being competitive with Apple when it comes to apps.  Traditionally, lawyers have preferred BlackBerrys and that is still the case. But the younger lawyers in my firm are choosing the iPhone over a BlackBerry and I know one Washington, D.C. lawyer who is addicted to his BlackBerry, but one day borrowed his wife's iPhone. The next day, he bought an iPhone for himself and now he carries both.

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