BlackBerry App World 3.1 Will Have Content Rating System & Filter – Devs Must Rate Apps!

By Mauricio

RIM recently posted some info on the BlackBerry Developer’s Blog offering a preview for an upcoming content rating system and filter. With the new content ratings BlackBerry users will be able to choose what kind of content is viewable by them. Here’s a bit from their blog post:

On Wednesday November 30th, 2011 we will be performing a server upgrade that will bring content rating to the storefront. Our content rating system has been planned out based on input from our carrier, consumer, and developer partners to make sure we’ve implemented a content rating system that helps parents control what types of content their children have access to.
After the upgrade is complete, all applications and themes in the BlackBerry App World storefront will receive a default rating. The majority of apps will be rated G (General). If your app or theme is in one of the categories listed below, it’ll receive a rating of T (Teen).
In addition to these categories, apps and themes with descriptions that contain the terms “BBM™”, “Facebook®”, “Twitter®”, “chat”, “dating”, “social networking” and “message” will also receive a default rating of T (Teen).
On the BlackBerry smartphone side, we’ll be launching a client update on December 15th, 2011 that will enable consumers to set a rating filter. Once the filter is set, only content of the specified ratings will be displayed to the consumer when they browse or search the BlackBerry App World catalog.

If you’re a developer you have 15 days to log into the Vendor Portal and update your Content Rating questions if you think they should have a different rating. Check out a few more screenshots below!