I reported in March that BlackBerry gadgeteers would soon have their own iPhone-like App Store. I’m happy to report that it was a short wait, as App World is officially open for business.

First, note that there are some limitations to using App World. The one that will concern the greatest number of BlackBerry owners is that App World is open only to those with 4.2 or higher software and BlackBerries with trackballs or touchscreens. As Walt Mossberg said in his review of App World,  that will leave millions of BlackBerry owners with trackwheels out in the cold. Why the oversight, RIM (makers of the BlackBerry)?

The other thing to notice is that you’ll need a PayPal account to pay for your applications. That may be something not everyone is ready or willing to do. I’ve used PayPal for years and found it to be easy and secure, but others have had bad PayPal experiences or just prefer not to leave sensitive information with a Website.

I don’t have a BlackBerry so I can’t review apps personally, but various Internet reviews state that there are plenty of apps available, and most seem to work well. They are, on the whole, a bit pricier than iPhone apps, with the lowest price point being $2.99 (there are free ones, however).

Although this may seem to be a negative review, that’s not really the case. Just being able to have applications available on your BlackBerry is great, and will add a lot of value to your phone. We’re in the applications-on-phones era, and there’s no going back.