[rbenjami]

I keep hearing how there is a huge backlog of apps waiting for approval from RIM to be released to App World. Yet, it seems there is a hugely disproportionate number of Canadian-centric apps in App World. This leads me to conclude that either (1) there are many more Canadian developers than American developers; or (2) RIM is giving preferential treatment to the Canadian developers.

RIM clearly gives Canadian companies an edge - just look at the Kobo vs. Kindle debacle.

Where are the American apps? Enough with the Football (soccer) and Hockey apps. How about a baseball app? Enough with the dozens of stupid Canadian news apps - how about some American papers? WSJ? NYT? Heck, even USA Today has an app for almost every platform (except the PlayBook).

Are there a ton of American apps waiting in "purgatory" (RIM's review process)?

[X04D00]

That would be a stupid move on their part, especially when most complaints are about the lack of apps.

I don't think that's the case at all.

[leo1055]

I keep hearing how there is a huge backlog of apps waiting for approval from RIM to be released to App World. Yet, it seems there is a hugely disproportionate number of Canadian-centric apps in App World. This leads me to conclude that either (1) there are many more Canadian developers than American developers; or (2) RIM is giving preferential treatment to the Canadian developers.

RIM clearly gives Canadian companies an edge - just look at the Kobo vs. Kindle debacle.

Where are the American apps? Enough with the Football (soccer) and Hockey apps. How about a baseball app? Enough with the dozens of stupid Canadian news apps - how about some American papers? WSJ? NYT? Heck, even USA Today has an app for almost every platform (except the PlayBook).

Are there a ton of American apps waiting in "purgatory" (RIM's review process)?

I doubt they are favoring Canadians...seems like that would be shooting themselves in the foot

[pkcable]

I don't think so. I have seen tons of apps from European developers too. I think it's just slow going for all. RIM has some work to do on the OS itself and that MAY be the focus right now, and unfortunately apps might be taking a back seat to that.

[Witmen]

Are there a ton of American apps waiting in "purgatory" (RIM's review process)?

Nope. I would say there are a ton of apps waiting to be tested on actual hardware by their developers. The apps are approved. They just haven't been posted for sell yet. Same thing I did.

[TBacker]

RIM may also be checking to make sure they work with the next major OS update we keep hearing about.

Were still early enough in the OS that some core changes may need to be made that break apps. Rather than tick off developers, they may be allowing them to fix things for the update before their apps get posted.

[Smiley88]

Where did you get this rumor? if this was true I would have all my apps approved the first day of submitting them. Yet I still have to wait 10 days for an app to be approved and 7+ days for other stuff.

The problem is that RIM have to go thru every app and make sure they fit the guidelines. No Porn, trademark, copyright, hate etc... contents. Unlike Mobihand or Google Market place where you can do anything you want.

[BaconMunch]

It may be possible that Canadian developers have jumped on the bandwagon to support RIM sooner than the traditional big name companies. We are definitely still waiting on the Skype's, the WSJ's, the CNN's of the world to jump on and I think it's the developers that are waiting, not RIM not approving. That being said, I want the native DK out ASAP!

[D.Vader]

It may be possible that Canadian developers have jumped on the bandwagon to support RIM sooner than the traditional big name companies. We are definitely still waiting on the Skype's, the WSJ's, the CNN's of the world to jump on and I think it's the developers that are waiting, not RIM not approving. That being said, I want the native DK out ASAP!

Yeah I think you are just seeing Candain developers flock to the device out of national pride.

The NativeSDK coming will likely usher in many new apps.

[egranlund]

I can't wait until we can sideload

[BBThemes]

I keep hearing how there is a huge backlog of apps waiting for approval from RIM to be released to App World. Yet, it seems there is a hugely disproportionate number of Canadian-centric apps in App World. This leads me to conclude that either (1) there are many more Canadian developers than American developers; or (2) RIM is giving preferential treatment to the Canadian developers.

RIM clearly gives Canadian companies an edge - just look at the Kobo vs. Kindle debacle.

Where are the American apps? Enough with the Football (soccer) and Hockey apps. How about a baseball app? Enough with the dozens of stupid Canadian news apps - how about some American papers? WSJ? NYT? Heck, even USA Today has an app for almost every platform (except the PlayBook).

Are there a ton of American apps waiting in "purgatory" (RIM's review process)?

normal approval process is up to 10 working days, has been for years, this isnt new, regional based or anything, its the same for every dev.

two major flaws with your arguement/question
1) have the USA apps even been submitted? thats kinda a big first question you`d need to know the answer to
2) if yes to q1, were they submitted before, or after the canadian apps?

needless to say, im uk based, and my app was approved in the normal timescales, so i think your regional based fears arent something to worry about. just remember, good things come to those who wait

[Skeevecr]

RIM clearly gives Canadian companies an edge - just look at the Kobo vs. Kindle debacle.

Amazon haven't bothered finishing an app yet whereas Kobo have, how is that down to Rim favouring one over the other?

[ryanlrobinson]

To support what some others have said, I don't think RIM is biased toward Canadians so much as Canadians are biased toward RIM. I think Canadian developers are more likely to start with a BlackBerry app than are American developers just because BlackBerry is Canadian (and because Android has not grown nearly as fast here). American developers on the other hand seem to largely ignore BlackBerry and focus on iOS and Android. I don't particularly believe this myself, but maybe instead of RIM biasing Canadian developers, American developers are biased against RIM?

Take the Kobo/Kindle debate for example. I don't consider that a debacle because I'm still waiting for a Kindle BlackBerry app for Canadians. Granted that Kindle is a better selection, but until Kindle apps open up to those outside the US then that selection is useless to me and lots of other BlackBerry users. Kobo on the other hand has had one for a long time for everybody, so that makes more sense to include as a default on an international product.