BlackBerry has long been in need of a refreshing user defined experience similar to what Apple users experience with the iPhone. iPhone users are able to build the phone they want with a variety of free and pay-for apps that build on the already amazing functionality of the iPhone. BlackBerry has finally decided to jump into the applications market by announcing their BlackBerry Application Center which will launch with the release of the BlackBerry Storm software version 4.7.

This will allow BlackBerry users to define their experience by picking and choosing the apps they want to add to their very functional phones. RIM’s answer may come late compared to Apple’s and Google’s application markets, but BlackBerry users are sure to jump on board this concept.

Unfortunately RIM’s successful announcement has been deflated with the launch of an unaffiliated opening of a BlackBerry app site called BerryStore. The site boasts a growing 40 apps already for download and look to add more just in the weeks to come. The benefit of going through BerryStore is that it does not rely solely on the release of the BlackBerry Storm, but rather has apps that will work across old and new phones in the BlackBerry family.

So the question becomes, did BlackBerry just get upstaged? For those that can’t afford to make the switch or jump to the Storm, it appears an opportunity has opened up to them, which makes switching almost pointless, and puts some flavor into your existing BlackBerry.