Apps to Download for Your New BlackBerry Z10 Phone - Wall Street Journal (blog)

Apps to Download for Your New BlackBerry Z10 Phone - Wall Street Journal (blog)

By Matthew Lynley

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

BlackBerry's newest smartphone, the Z10, went on sale on Friday.

Starting at $199 with a two-year contract in the U.S., the Z10 has some fierce competition with the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S 3. It also has to compete with devices that are still in the pipeline for this year, like the next iPhone and the soon-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy S 4

Much of that will come down to which apps are available for the device. Last week, BlackBerry said it had more than 100,000 apps for the BlackBerry Z10 on the BlackBerry World storefront. By comparison, Apple’s store now has about 800,000 apps, and Google's has about 700,000.

Importantly, some apps very popular with consumers are missing from the Z10, like Instagram and SnapChat. Others, like Skype and Rdio, aren’t yet in the store but are expected.

Then again, BlackBerry does have most major apps, even if some of the best experiences aren’t ready for BlackBerry 10 just yet. Some of the most popular services, like Facebook and Twitter, are already built into the device.

There are a few extra things worth adding to make the experience complete, or to tide you over while developers begin rolling out their versions for BlackBerry 10. Here are a few apps to check out for your new Z10:

WhatsApp: WhatsApp is a popular cross-platform messaging app that is launching with BlackBerry 10. It’s already very popular on other platforms, like the iPhone and Android, and this version is free for the first year on BlackBerry 10. Free on App World.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn, along with Twitter and Facebook, is a professional social network that sports hundreds of millions of members. For a phone like the BlackBerry, which has traditionally been characterized as an enterprise-oriented phone, this is a good one to pick up. Free on App World.

Foursquare: In lieu of another good discovery app, Foursquare will help you find new places to visit, such as restaurants, clubs or coffee shops. Free on App World.

Angry Birds Star Wars: Every phone needs games, and BlackBerry has the newest version of Angry Birds in the form of Angry Birds Star Wars. Side bonus: This version is free, and one of the series’ most popular. Free on App World.

Waze: Again, in lieu of a typical navigator app like the Galaxy S 4′s new navigator, Waze serves as a good alternative for commuting. It has real-time traffic updates for driving around and will help you spot blockages and places to stop. Free on App World.

Slacker Radio: Slacker is one of the go-to “radio” apps for BlackBerry 10 smartphones. You can listen to a specific curated radio station, and vote up and down songs you like or dislike in order to personalize the experience. Free on App World.

Songza: Another option for listening to music on your smartphone. Songza essentially picks a song that’s appropriate for the moment, such as when you are at a gym or commuting home from work. Free on App World.

Kindle for BlackBerry 10: Luckily if you’re a fan of the Kindle E-reader or have already made book purchases on Amazon, you’ll be able to read them via Amazon’s Kindle app on BlackBerry 10. Free on App World.

Source Article from http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/03/25/apps-to-download-for-your-new-blackberry-z10-phone/