BlackBerry 10.3 Operating System To Come With Amazon Appstore - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - BlackBerry Limited (BBRY, BB.TO) announced that the Amazon Appstore will be available with the launch of the BlackBerry 10.3 operating system this fall. With more than 240,000 Android applications in the Amazon Appstore worldwide, BlackBerry 10 device customers will gain access to popular apps such as Groupon, Netflix, Pinterest, Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft.

"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," said BlackBerry CEO John Chen.

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 popular Free App of the Day program.

BlackBerry said the strategic move enables it to align its developer program with renewed focus on delivering the most secure, end-to-end mobile enterprise solutions, by placing more emphasis on the development of vital enterprise and productivity applications.