Amazon.com
Amazon has its eye on a slice of the fast-growing apps pie. It will open its own apps store later this year. It will initially offer programs that run on Google’s Android mobile operating system, and it’s offerings will only be to the U.S. market.
Amazon’s move comes as the competition to become the go-to destination for mobile apps intensifies. Amazon believes its familiarity with online retailing will give its app store the edge.
Developers who sign up now get a free year before they have to start forking over the $99 annual fee. For their money, developers get listed in a store that reviews every application submitted, and rejects the garbage as well as the unstable or inadequately tested, but more importantly Amazon can offer access to shoppers who only dropped in to buy a book.
While other app stores have to compete for the attention of phone app buyers, Amazon has a large customer base that is already used to purchasing from the online giant so they will likely sell to some who hadn’t initially considered buying apps for their phones.
