The number of downloads for Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB)’s BlackBerry 10 apps has been far lower than Android and iOS smartphone apps. But the company gets a much needed boost soon from Unity Technologies, which has planned to expand its cross-platform game development tool set to BlackBerry 10. And Unity has invited app developers to join its open beta trial, and be among the first to gain access.
If the program succeeds, Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB)’s BlackBerry 10 will have many apps that are available on Android and iOS. Unity’s beta version will be available this spring, the company reported on it blog. Developers can use Unity’s tools to create games for a number of different platforms simultaneously, including PCs, smartphones and gaming consoles. Though the process and workflow will be similar to the iOS and Android apps, they can also take an existing app and publish it to the new OS.
Unity Technologies’ initiative is entirely different from Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB)’s own Android initiative, under which Android apps are “repackaged” in the BlackBerry 10 library. The repackaged apps now account for BlackBerry 10’s 40 percent share of apps, no small feat for Blackberry 10 which is competing with industry leaders like Android and iOS. The apps developed using Unity’s tools will work with BlackBerry Z10, Q10 and any other BB10 based device that hits the markets.
Unity Technologies will give the trial license to all registered developers, to use for two months. But any app developed using the trial license will be watermarked. And that can’t be used for commercial purpose, Unity Technologies said in its blog.
At the moment, Unity is allowing only advanced and intermediate developers to sign up, so new users will have to wait until Unity brings it on a commercial release.
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) shares were up 1.52 percent to $14,05 per share.
