Research in Motion (RIM) announced its upcoming app center will be called BlackBerry App World and should be available to users later this month. The service, previously known as App Center, will offer BlackBerry owners an easier way to buy and install new applications on their phones, similar to Apple's popular App Store for iPhones. RIM's version will be similar in many ways, though it will cover a wider array of devices including the Pearl, Curve, Bold, 8800 and Storm devices.

In terms of pricing, the BlackBerry App World does allow for free applications, but the cheapest paid app has to be US$2.99. From there, they go up in one dollar increments to $19.99. Then there are $10 increments to $99.99, $50 tiers to $599.99, and $100 tiers to $999.99.

The site, which went live at 7 p.m. PST, said: "Coming soon! Find tons of great applications designed for your BlackBerry smartphone in one convenient place - BlackBerry App World." You're going to need to download the App World at launch and also set up a PayPal account, which will be the primary billing method for the center. Future phones should get the App World pre-installed.

RIM also listed a wide range of applications that will be available at launch that definitely spans the spectrum from consumer to enterprise, such as games, social networks, stock market trackers and something they say will "channel your inner rock god." It also provided a link for developers, who want to submit their application to the store. The name of the store is also new because previously, the company was calling it the "BlackBerry Application Center."