BlackBerry 10 developers submit 15,000 apps over single weekend

App store concept pic

BlackBerry 10 (BB10) users could find a well-stocked app store by the time the new smartphone drops at the end of this month.

A "Port-a-thon" saw developers submit 15,000 apps to BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) over a single weekend.

The event was held to create apps for the new platform, with incentives given to developers to encourage them to participate.

RIM executives were reportedly pleased with the result.

"Well there you have it. 37.5 hours in, we hit 15,000 apps for this portathon. Feel like I've run a marathon. Thanks to all the devs!" wrote Alec Saunders, vice president of developer relations at RIM, in a Twitter message.

Developers were offered $100 for each app submitted and approved for use in the Blackberry App Store.

The first 200 developers to have five-to-ten apps approved receive a BB10 Alpha device.

Developers with more than ten approved apps receive a device and could bag a chance to attend February's Blackberry Jam conference in Amsterdam.

The event was split into two halves. One focused on porting Android apps while the other was open to porting software from other platforms, such as Marmalade, Sencha, jQuery, PhoneGap, Qt, AIR, Enyo, and previous versions of the BlackBerry OS.

RIM has also promised developers that if their apps generate more than $1,000 in income, it will make up the difference between that figure and $10,000.

BB10 is essential to RIM's future as it has gradually seen its share of the smartphone market eroded by Apple and Samsung in recent years.

The new smartphone OS and handsets are scheduled for launch on 30 January.

The final "BlackBerry 10 Last Chance Port-A-Thon" will begin on January 18 and run for 36 hours.

Rene Millman

Rene Millman is a freelance writer and broadcaster who covers cybersecurity, AI, IoT, and the cloud. He also works as a contributing analyst at GigaOm and has previously worked as an analyst for Gartner covering the infrastructure market. He has made numerous television appearances to give his views and expertise on technology trends and companies that affect and shape our lives. You can follow Rene Millman on Twitter.