Getting Started with BlackBerry Development, a Java example, and other considerations…

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Christopher Saunders

Application Development Consultant Developer Relations

csaunders@rim.com

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Outline • Introduction: Setting some things straight • Background and OS statistics • Getting started: BlackBerry Developer Portal • Tools, Signing Keys, Documentation, Microsites,

forums, and more • Example: Hello World -

Packaging/Signing/Debugging • The next generation: BlackBerry OS 7 • BlackBerry Messenger Social Platform • Monetization and Analytics

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The BlackBerry Market is shrinking.

There are 70 million active BlackBerry subscribers today, and BlackBerry expects to sell ~ 14 million new devices this quarter.

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BlackBerry users don’t use apps.

There are over 5 million downloads from BlackBerry App World every day. That’s 140 million downloads per month, or about 24 downloads per year, per user.

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BlackBerry developers can’t make money.

• BlackBerry App World has more paid downloads than Android Market, and is the 2nd most profitable app store after Apple. • App World apps generate 40% more revenue than Android Market apps. • 13% of BlackBerry developers have made $100,000 or more from BlackBerry App World apps, higher than on Android or iOS. • BlackBerry 7 devices generate more than 10x the application revenue of previous BlackBerry devices

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Recap: BlackBerry Truths • The BlackBerry market is growing • BlackBerry subscribers are using apps • There is a very real opportunity for

developers to make money with the BlackBerry platform

BlackBerry Evolution

Browser -Flash 10.1 -- HTML5 Adobe AIR WebWorks Java Native

Choosing Target Devices

Browser -Flash 10.1 -- HTML5 Adobe AIR WebWorks Java Native

Java developers should just focus here

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Smartphone OS Breakdown

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Free App World Downloads

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Paid App World Downloads

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Recap: Choosing a Target OS • OS 5.0 and above are considered the

recommended baseline target code lines for BlackBerry Java developers

• BlackBerry subscribers running later devices and more recent code lines are more likely to spend money on apps

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Getting Started • Development Platforms Overview • Understanding Options • Why BlackBerry Java? • Getting ready for your first application

• Register for Developer Zone • Download Tools • Register for Signing Keys • Register for App World Distribution

BlackBerry Platforms BlackBerry Handheld BlackBerry PlayBook & SuperPhone

BlackBerry Cloud Services Architecture (BES, BIS, Push, Maps, Payments, BBM, Scoreloop, etc.)

BlackBerry OS BBX OS

BlackBerry Java

Webworks HTML 5

Adobe AIR / FLEX

Native + Open

Source

Understanding your Options SuperApp

Level of Difficulty

Some App Integration

Push

Tight Integration

Homescreen Presence

Mobile Website

Web Icon

BlackBerry WebWorks

Native Java Application

(Smartphone)

Native AIR Application (PlayBook)

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Why BlackBerry Java? • Custom BlackBerry Java Virtual

Machine offers deep device feature integration

• Mature, proven, and trusted platform • Access to all BlackBerry Smartphone

features and platform services though well documented and familiar Java APIs

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Further Considerations • Benefits

• Tight integration with the BlackBerry Smartphone

• Graphic Acceleration for games • Standards based approach

• Challenges • Requires Java expertise • Targeted OS versions define available feature set • Custom UI work in older code lines is time

consuming (pre-5.0)

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Recap: Platforms Overview • There are many different development

approaches for BlackBerry PlayBook and Smartphone applications

• BlackBerry Java is a mature and robust development platform

• Java offers the deepest integration to device features and functionality

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Developer Zone • Main portal for all BlackBerry

development-related information/tools • Platform Microsites • Forums • Developer Issue Tracker • Inside BlackBerry Developer’s Blog • Documentation • Tools and Downloads • And more…

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Setting up for your first app • Register for Developer Zone account

• http://developer.blackberry.com

• Download Development Tools • http://developer.blackberry.com

• Register for free signing keys • http://www.blackberry.com/signedkeys

• Register for App World Vendor Account • http://appworld.blackberry.com/isvportal

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Recap: Developer Zone • All tools, documentation and

resources are available on our developer portal: http://developer.blackberry.com

• Knowledge base and forums provide an active and dynamic community for sharing knowledge and experiences

• All tools, downloads, documentation and other resources are available free of charge

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An Example: Hello World! • Quick demonstration to show:

• The development environment • Packaging your application • Signing your application • Testing your application in the simulator • Debugging your application

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The Next Generation: BB7 OS

• Seven new devices launched globally • New hardware enabled features:

• Near Field Communications (aka NFC) • Digital Compass (enabling Augmented Reality) • OpenGL 2.0 ES through Java API bindings • Updated HTML5 support for world-class

rendering • “Liquid Graphics” engine for 60FPS

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BBM Social Platform • BBM

• 45+ million active users • 2+ million users a month • 100+ billion messages a month • BBM is a key driver to global

BlackBerry growth • Enables instant sharing of

information. Anytime. Anywhere.

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BBM Social Platform

Invite Friends

Embed Chat

Share Content

Customize User Profiles

Supports BlackBerry 5.0, BlackBerry 6 and BlackBerry 7 smartphones

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Monetization Introduction • There are 3 major ways in which to

monetize your application with BlackBerry Platform Services • Advertising Service • Payments Service • App World Distribution

• Additionally, through our Analytics Service you are able to gather detailed information about how users use your application

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Monetization: Ad Service

• Easily integrate using a few lines of code

• Ads can play videos, add items to calendar, address book, and more…

• 60% revenue share with developer

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Monetization: Ad Service

• Leverage multiple networks • Easy management through

single online service portal

Mediation Platform

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Monetization: Payment Service • Easy way to generate revenue

• Freemium/Paid upgrades • Unlock new game levels, functionality • Pay per use

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Monetization: Payment Service • Simple and secure API for developers • Seamless payments in Java, Adobe

AIR, and WebWorks applications • Leverages App World payment channel

for secure and convenient transactions • 70% revenue share with the developer • Easily manage digital goods via the

App World Vendor portal

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Monetization: App World • Set your own price from $0.99 to

$999.99 in local currency • Payment accepted via Credit Card,

PayPal, and carrier billing • Available in over 100 countries and in 6

languages, and growing… • 70% revenue share

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App World 3.0 New Features

• Update user interface • Subscription billing • Country level pricing • Carrier bundles

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BlackBerry Analytics

When are they using my app?

How long do they spend

with my app?

How many people use my

app?

Who is using my

app?

Where are my users?

What are they doing with my

app?

• Easily view fine grained telemetry about your application through online portal

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Recap: Monetization • 3 main ways to make money with

BlackBerry Platform Services: Ad Service, Payment Service, App World distribution

• BlackBerry Analytics provides an easy way to gather information on how your users are using your application

Thank You.

Questions?

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Christopher Saunders

Application Development Consultant Developer Relations

csaunders@rim.com

Device Giveaway!

Question 1: What is the recommended base code line

to target for Java development?

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Device Giveaway!

Question 2: Can you name 2 of the 3 different monetization

methods available to BlackBerry developers?

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Device Giveaway!

Question 3: What is the web address for the

BlackBerry Developer Portal?

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