MOBILE phone giant Blackberry has announced it is offering $100 (£63) worth of free apps to  customers hit by its three-day global blackout.

The free apps will include SIMS 3, Bejeweled, Bubble Bash 2 and Shazam Encore (full list below)

Millions of Blackberry users were furious last week after they were unable to access email, surf the web or use the BlackBerry Messenger service.

The Monday-Thursday blackout may have done irreparable damage to Research in Motion, the Canadian company behind the phones.

RIM said the selection of premium apps will be offered as 'an expression of appreciation for their patience' during the disruptions.

The apps will be available on the BlackBerry App World from Wednesday October 19 until December 31.

The Apps include:

SIMS 3 - Electronic Arts

Bejeweled - Electronic Arts

N.O.V.A. - Gameloft

Texas Hold’em Poker 2 - Gameloft

Bubble Bash 2 - Gameloft

Photo Editor Ultimate - Ice Cold Apps

DriveSafe.ly Pro - iSpeech.org

iSpeech Translator Pro - iSpeech.org

Drive Safe.ly Enterprise - iSpeech.org

Nobex Radio™ Premium - Nobex

Shazam Encore - Shazam

Vlingo Plus: Virtual Assistant – Vlingo

However, already RIM are feeling the backlash.

More than 1,000 customers quizzed by shopping comparison website Kelkoo found that 19 per cent were thinking about moving to another manufacturer.

Research among another 3,000 people found that seven out of 10 who were planning to get a BlackBerry in the future admitted they would need some reassurance from the manufacturer as they would be put off by last week's problems.

Announcing the free apps RIM co-chief executive Mike Lazaridis said: “Our global network supports the communications needs of more than 70 million customers. 'We truly appreciate and value our relationship with our customers.

'We've worked hard to earn their trust over the past 12 years, and we're committed to providing the high standard of reliability they expect, today and in the future.”