An application that enables users to access their MySpace accounts on BlackBerrys has shattered download records during its first week of availability, with over 400,000 downloads so far.
The MySpace for BlackBerry application was launched on November 13 and the total number of downloads since then represents an all-time high for both RIM and MySpace in terms of first week application downloads, the company said.
People using the app collectively sent and received over 15 million messages and updated their status over two million times in the first week.
The application is fully optimised to deliver rich content and data to BlackBerry devices. It combines MySpace’s social networking components with the BlackBerry platform to provide users with push-based messages.
Jim Balsillie, co-CEO at RIM, said: “This rapid adoption is a reflection of an evolving consumer lifestyle where social connectivity and information access are more important than ever. This powerful new mobile application combines social networking and mobility in a highly personalised and empowering manner and we are very excited to see such a positive response in the first week.”
Speaking to CBR before this announcement was made, RIM president and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said social networking would play a very important role in the development of the smartphone market over the next few years.
“The exciting thing right now [on the market] is the conversion from a feature phone to a smartphone, a device that has a very comprehensive communications and multimedia experience and apps capabilities. That’s starting already with social networking, Facebook has been incredibly successful on BlackBerry and MySpace is following in the same footsteps,” he said.
The app will be available on RIM’s new BlackBerry Storm from November 24, so the impressive download figures may continue for a while longer.
