BlackBerry to remove all paid content from app store

In a move depicting the 'final nail in the BB10 coffin', BlackBerry Limited, the manager of BlackBerry's brand licensing and software, announced that paid software will be removed from the BlackBerry World app store on April 1.

Furthermore, the company stated that starting April 1, BlackBerry World would move to a free-only storefront, and will cease to host content, and will disable all purchasing mechanism.

In a note issued by app developer Steve Troughton-Smith on Twitter, the company stated that all content developers wishing to continue trading on the portal may log into the Vendor Portal and change their content to "free". Failing to do, the company said, would lead to such content being terminated from the platform.

However, BlackBerry noted that apps can still be monetised, provided the payment mechanism remains within the app itself. In other words, monetisation of apps can take place if any payment or refund is supported by the developer itself.

Refunds for paid content on BlackBerry World will be supported till April 30, this year, BlackBerry clarified through its note.