Research In Motion released the beta version of its upgraded BlackBerry App World storefront, promising a series of new bells and whistles including improved application discovery, expanded payment options and a new user identification system. First and foremost, BlackBerry App World now supports credit card payments as well as PayPal; RIM adds it is still working to integrate direct operator billing with a host of carrier partners. The store also boasts new tabbed sections for various application lists–users can now horizontally swipe or scroll to view the Top 25 Free Apps, Top 25 Paid Apps and Top 25 Themes, along with checklists spotlighting the Newest Apps and Recently Updated Apps.

The refreshed BlackBerry App World introduces BlackBerry ID, giving users a device-independent user ID tag to enable new payment options as well as seamlessly transfer their personal library of free and premium apps when they upgrade to a new BlackBerry device. Also new: Support for QR barcode scanning.

RIM states that more than 30 million BlackBerry smartphone users have now downloaded BlackBerry App World since the store launched in the spring of 2009, with consumers averaging more than a million app downloads each day. Although BlackBerry App World is now available in over 65 countries, the new beta preview is presently limited to customers in the U.S. and Canada.

For more on the BlackBerry App World upgrade:
- read this release

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