BlackBerry App World 2.0 provides cheaper apps and new payment options

RIM will slowly be adding credit card billing and carrier billing over the next few months, starting with ATT. Its also lowering the minimum price to 99 cents and $1.99 per app from a previously self-imposed limit of a much higher $2.99. Carrier billing is considered the best way to sell applications and other mobile content to wireless subscribers because it takes the least amount of work users don’t have to enter credit card numbers, or even a user name and password to a PayPal account.

The BlackBerry App World update will also improve usability. Updates include:

• The store will have new sections where users can easily see the Top 25 Free Apps, Top 25 Paid Apps and Top 25 Themes, as well as the Newest Apps and Recently Updated Apps.
• QR barcode scanning will be supported, allowing a QR code associated with an application from anywhere the web, print ads, brochures—to link to its corresponding download page.
• Users will have BlackBerry IDs that enable credit card payments and allow customers to seamlessly transfer their personal library of free and purchased apps when they switch to a new BlackBerry smartphone.