On Wednesday, October 12, BlackBerry device users experienced a data outage that lasted for three days, leaving users without email function or Internet access on their phone. Research in Motion (RIM), the company that runs BlackBerry, is set to give BlackBerry users free applications on their devices as a result from the outage, according to an RIM press release.
The selection of apps will be available on BlackBerry’s BlackBerry® App World™ starting Wednesday Oct. 19 for a four week period. BlackBerry has described the apps as premium apps, with some applications with values of over $100, according to the press release.
“Our global network supports the communications needs of more than 70 million customers,” said RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis. “We’ve worked hard to earn [our customer’s] trust over the past 12 years, and we’re committed to providing the high standard of reliability they expect, today and in the future.”
“I didn’t even know about the outage but I remember my phone was being really slow,” said Danielle Jenkins, a junior elementary education major. “This alone has made me want to get an iPhone.”
Freshman letters and sciences major Cam Hatch also said he had no idea about the outage, but noted that BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry’s instant messaging application, sent him a notice of the outage.
“I still love BlackBerry,” said Hatch. “For me, my whole family has BlackBerry so I really like it. [The outage] hasn’t made me want to change.”