BlackBerry maker RIM and cross-platform tool maker Marmalade are offering developers a free Marmalade SDK licence to encourage the building of apps for the BlackBerry 10 platform.

The offer is intended to show RIM’s commitment to open standards and platforms and encourage developers using Marmalade to bring the games and apps they build to BlackBerry 10 and the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

Once developers have published their first app on the BlackBerry App World app store, they can then upgrade to the Marmalade Indie licence for free.

The offer will only be available for a limited period and qualified developers who register will receive a BlackBerry PlayBook as well as the free SDK licence.

“Together with Marmalade, we're working to make it as easy as possible for mobile developers to bring their apps to the BlackBerry platform," said RIM VP of developer relations and ecosystem, Alec Saunders.