I am sure you've heard the expression, "there's an app for that!" It's the tag line for the Apple AppStore. The AppStore is filled with over 350,000 apps (small software programmes designed specifically for smartphones), apps for games, for business, for learning, for everything!

Moving from Apple to Android, the Android Market is expected to eclipse the AppStore in just a few months. Nokia's apps store, Ovi, is likely to give way to the Windows Phone Market, which also boasts thousands of premium apps.

Apple, Android? What about the BlackBerry? Jamaica is BlackBerry territory. Based on the sheer volume of BB handsets in use on island, we think BlackBerry is the best (and only) smartphone out there. So, BlackBerry's App World must have the best apps, right? Wrong.

RIM introduced App World in 2009 to create a space for easy distribution of platform-specific applications from third-party developers to handsets. The store is filled with cool apps like Twitter for BlackBerry, FourSquare, Facebook for BlackBerry, Whats App, Windows Live Messenger, Documents to Go, and useful tools. Of course, App World is a an app itself and it's free with every BlackBerry handset.

not free

Downloading free apps from the free App World does incur not-free data charges. Downloading paid apps requires a credit card of Paypal account tied to a credit card, and downloading any app, free or paid, requires a registration process and repeated sign-ins to get the app you need.

App World would be much more convenient if it supported carrier billing, but sadly, none of the local telecoms allow users to download paid apps and use credit to pay. This limits the functionality. Also, App World users are required to set up a BlackBerry ID to gain access to App World 2.0, which is not directly linked to the BlackBerry ID used to set up data service on the handset.

App World has never been easy to navigate, but RIM is planning a major upgrade, thanks to the release of the BlackBerry Playbook, which has its own suite of apps. App World 3.0 is just around the corner. Hopefully this will bring needed improvements like a wider range of apps, an easier payment platform and more intuitive interface.

Despite the setbacks, there are a few apps you should add to your collection. Definitely download BlackBerry Protect, which remotely wipes your phone if it falls in the wrong hands, DriveSafely reads you text messages aloud, Bible - have the King James version in the palm of your hands - and Solitaire - the best time waster ever. They're all free, and worth downloading in addition to the apps mentioned earlier.

If, like me, you are hooked on BlackBerry and, by extension, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), make the best of it with free apps.

Tech Glitch:

Nicolas asks, "When is PSN going to work again?"

Tech Fix:

The Playstation Network (PSN) has been down since April 19 because of a hacker gaining access to the system and compromising 77 million user accounts. Sony has indicated that they are rebuilding the network from scratch, and hope to have it back online within another two weeks. Once it's back, change your password and enjoy.

Got a tech glitch? Get your tech fix at: facebook.com/ carlettedeleon. Listen to Tech Time on FAME FM each Tuesday morning at 8:15.

App World has never been easy to navigate, but RIM is planning a major upgrade, thanks to the release of the BlackBerry Playbook, which has its own suite of apps.