Amazon has officially launched its own app store with 3,800 Android apps in what will be a fierce battle with Apple.
The new store is considered a potent competitor in the mobile apps space, with Amazon bidding to create the equivalent of Applea4ぎa4г iTunes for Googlea4ぎa4г Android mobile operating system.
One sign that Amazon is coming out swinging: it is making Angry Birds Rio, the new version of the hot mobile game that got its start on the Apple App Store, available for free on the Amazon Appstore.
Apple came out swinging as well, filing a trademark infringement suit yesterday over Amazona4ぎa4г use of the word a4ぎAAppstorea4ぎ which is so similar to Applea4ぎa4г a4ぎAApp Store.a4ぎ There are lots of other Android app stores out there, and Google itself operates the Android Market, but no other rival has such deep roots in e-commerce as Amazon.
The Amazon Appstore can be downloaded to a user&'s handset. The store will support hundreds of mobile operators and hardware manufacturers. Amazon has been recruiting app makers for months. But it has only about 1 percent of the total number of apps on Applea4ぎa4г store, which is nearly three years old.
Amazona4ぎa4г Appstore will let shoppers buy apps alongside other digital content like music, eBooks, and games. Participants include Gameloft, Handmark and Glu Mobile, which have been among the most successful app makers on the iPhone.
Calling all mobile executives: This April 25-26, VentureBeat is hosting its inaugural VentureBeat Mobile Summit, where we&'ll debate the five key business and policy challenges facing the mobile industry today. Participants will develop concrete, actionable solutions that will shape the future of the mobile industry. The invitation-only event, located at the scenic and relaxing Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., is limited to 180 mobile executives, investors and policymakers. We&'ve pretty much finalized the invite list, but have a few spots left. Request an invitation.
Previous Story: Opinionaided declares Instagram and Foodspotting the best-loved apps of SXSW
Print Email Twitter Facebook Google Buzz LinkedIn Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Delicious Google More&8230'
Companies: Amazon
Companies: Amazon
Dean is lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He covers video games, security, chips and a variety of other subjects. Dean previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News, the Wall Street Journal, the Red Herring, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Dallas Times Herald. He is the author of two books, Opening the Xbox and the Xbox 360 Uncloaked. Follow him on Twitter at @deantak, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.
Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.com
VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters. Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
Comments