Vodacom and RIM today announced that Vodacom customers in South Africa can now enjoy the ease of purchasing apps on BlackBerry App World with the convenience of charging the transaction directly to their contract or prepaid account. This means that BlackBerry users no longer have to register a credit card in order to purchase apps for the BlackBerry – which has always been a significant barrier in SA.

The new billing service will enable Vodacom customers to buy apps with a seamless experience. Vodacom customers will also be offered the flexibility of charging in-app purchases to their regular bill or deducting the costs from their prepaid account, which allows digital goods to be purchased without interrupting the app experience.

“We have worked closely with RIM to make this functionality available for our BlackBerry smartphone customers. Once again, Vodacom is improving the customer experience by unlocking the power of its network and services,” said Prins Mhlanga, Managing Executive of Vodacom Digital Media.

“We’re delighted that Vodacom’s BlackBerry smartphone customers will be able to purchase apps on BlackBerry App World and conveniently charge them to their regular phone bill from Vodacom. By working closely with Vodacom, we are able to offer customers easier access to tens of thousands of apps ranging from productivity to entertainment,” said Bob Bose, Regional Managing Director at RIM.