BlackBerry Developer Day: RIM’s Support for Developer and Approach to Universities in Indonesia

BlackBerry Developer Day was held yesterday in ITB, Bandung. It was the first developer day Research In Motion (RIM) held in university in Indonesia. RIM held several events previously in Indonesia to attract developers in developing application for their platform. I and several other friends had the opportunity to have light discussion with Johan Kremer, Head of Alliances for SEA, Research In Motion (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Sarim Aziz - Senior Application Development.

For me smartphone/tablet is all about application. There are more functions or features, but without application smartphone/tablet will not be maximized, and when talking about application that means we will talk about application store and eventually the talking will get to application developers and for RIM, with BlackBerry PlayBook on the market application is getting more and more important.

RIM’s approach by having events in universities is quite interesting. I’d like to remind you of the 2^nd Bandung Ventures Night (BVN) held at ITB, they are also targeting entrepreneur side (like application developing studio) working together with popular platform like Android and RIM with its BlackBerry.

BlackBerry Developer Day held this time in ITB was also aiming to reach developers community and create ecosystem around BlackBerry platform. Below are some points I get from short conversation with RIM’s reps.

On PlayBook, developer relation and how RIM convinces the developers to create PlayBook application:

• Having various events and meet developers directly, one of them is by having Developers Day.
• Organically build developer groups, facilitate and support them completely.
• Supports various development bases: Adobe AIR, Adobe Flash, WebWorks, HTML5, native BlackBerry Tablet app, Java-based BlackBerry app, Android-based app.
• From business side, AppWorld 3.0 will be released. It’ll be facilitated with carrier billing system collaborating with telcos, 60%-40% shares where 60% goes to developer and 40% is shared between RIM and telcos.

On RIM’s approach to universities in Indonesia:

• Approaching universities in Indonesia and ask them to join building ecosystem by combining it with campus activity, like in ITB it is part of extracurricular, developer related events, and providing full support over various information and facility including assistance in technical or business.
• The Adobe development base can be special entrance way for college students to develop application on PlayBook, by using special program to get a more affordable original Adobe product.
• Will have developers’ day in other universities in Indonesia, although no official statement released as to where it will be, but cities like Surabaya, Jogjakarta, Medan and Malang is in RIM’s consideration.

On medium – low end market in Indonesia:

• They explain about secondhand products in Indonesia that are still getting big interest from people and assist early users getting into their market and become starting point to try smartphone from RIM.
• They will be focusing to all products released including more affordable product variant like BlackBerry Gemini.

On Free PlayBook for developers program and other things:

• Although no numbers are disclosed but developers’ interests were very good for this free PlayBook program where developers can create and list their application for PlayBook to AppWorld and RIM likes it.
• There are more than 375.000 developers all over the world.
• For paid apps, the payment can only be done by using PayPal and Credit Card, in app purchase (ready to be operated) is expected to be able to create applications that will be another source of income for developer and later on carrier billing will be a new means connected to monetizing application.
• They will ask universities to collaborate in developing out of the box applications, with PlayBook entering Indonesia, universities will be able to develop various supportive application, very local and creative.
• RIM also answered question regarding “superphone”, most likely to provide various facilities applicable on PlayBook which will be applicable on other BlackBerry smartphone.

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Other than mentioned above, like carrier billing, one of the things that interests me is RIM’s approaches to university. Aside developers in general, universities also become important part from ecosystem development – developers. Nokia with its own platform is also doing the same thing, so does Blaast and Android. Other than public developers, personal or company studio), universities become important part of ecosystem; universities’ support on developing entrepreneurship becomes “fuel” for college students who are interested in developing.

For RIM, PlayBook – application – developer are 3 important things that should become their important strategy reference in Indonesia, application growth in tablet device is getting higher and higher and reaching out to wider type of consumer or early adopter or tech savvy. Indonesia is a huge market for RIM, various approach has been and will be done have prove it.

My partner, Amir, also have written opportunity (or obstacle) in developing PlayBook application. We will have to wait until this device enters Indonesian market widely to see consumers’ interest. Not to mention several chore facilities from tablet usage – PlayBook is yet to be enjoyable in all sectors, but hopefully several steps written above can help developers and readers to see how RIM connects with developers.