Amazon is Launching an Android App Store?

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Verizon Wireless just recently announced plans to launch a network-exclusive Android app store for Android users. Now it looks like Amazon is out to open an app store of its own.

TechCrunch this week reported that it had been tipped off about Amazon's latest plans to launch its own Android app store. Now, the site says it has more information about those plans and reports that it's looking more and more likely that Amazon is on the verge of launching an app store.

According to information obtained by TechCrunch, there will be a $99 fee to become an Amazon Android developer and developers with applications in other stores must agree to update the Amazon version at the same time as updating the app in other stores. The apps will also supposedly be "laced with Amazon DRM" and will only work on devices approved by Amazon. The etailer will pay developers royalty "equal to the greater of 70 percent of the purchase price or 20 percent of the List Price as of the purchase date." This List Price is apparently an effort to stop people selling the same application with a lower price on other app stores.

The app store will be U.S.-only, at least for the time being, and TechCrunch's sources offered no inclination as to when we can expect the store to launch.

Read the full story on TechCrunch.

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mman74 , September 29, 2010 1:16 AM

I can't believe that here in Hong Kong and in a lot of other markets, Google - with all the resources that they have - haven't got their act together to get the paid apps store out yet!
Come on! What do you want us Android users to do, switch to Apple?
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Anonymous , September 29, 2010 1:55 AM

I was kinda hoping Amazon would force Google to up their game. US only is an epic fail.
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eklipz330 , September 29, 2010 2:09 AM

can we sell used apps? =D?
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tuch92 , September 29, 2010 2:12 AM

I don't like these "exclusive" app stores. The great thing about Android was that I could get pretty much exactly the phone I wanted on any carrier and I would work the same regardless of carrier.

Now other than service, there's things you can get get only on a certain carriers or services which makes Android lose its uniformity/openness. This is a backwards step in my opinion.
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g-thor , September 29, 2010 2:46 AM

Quote:
apps will also supposedly be "laced with Amazon DRM"

No thanks. I went Android because it's open source. I have no objection to paying for something I want, but DRM it and you lose my dollars.
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Nesto1000 , September 29, 2010 3:46 AM

Missed a letter in sentence...
The (r)etailer will pay
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bsbsbsbs , September 29, 2010 6:33 AM

This will flop big time for Verizon and Amazon. They'll struggle to get devs.
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dthx , September 29, 2010 7:32 AM

But I like the idea that Google may eventually fear some competition on Android Apps. I am more than upset by Google's actual way of (not) doing things: in Belgium, you can only access free apps. All the rest won't appear on our Android Market app as Google didn't even do his homework (which is just adapt their T&C's to our local laws and work with our phone providers). Amazon's threat may force Google to move in the right direction.
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back_by_demand , September 29, 2010 7:49 AM

Open Source?
Laced with DRM?

WTF?
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Anonymous , September 29, 2010 10:29 AM

This is fine at least until apps start to become exclusive to one market or the other. Then you will have to check all the markets for the app you want, freedom and openness is great as long as the end user benefits, not sure if everyone being able to open their own market is beneficial to the end-user, and i'm sure it's not if indeed apps become market-exclusive.
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TunaSoda , September 29, 2010 11:07 AM

Android already has a market... wtf
What are you Apple?
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dan117 , September 29, 2010 11:11 AM

Just great... Market fragmentation...
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chronicbint , September 29, 2010 11:17 AM

dan117Just great... Market fragmentation...

Android has been going this way for ages, its already bad in that phones have all different OS versions. With loads of different App stores it will be exceedingly annoying. A single App store is the best way.
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back_by_demand , September 29, 2010 11:53 AM

Anyone ever thought of using www.download.com
Not just apps for Android but every platform, mobile or otherwise
What's the beef with all the new app store?
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dan117 , September 29, 2010 11:57 AM

chronicbintAndroid has been going this way for ages, its already bad in that phones have all different OS versions. With loads of different App stores it will be exceedingly annoying. A single App store is the best way.

Yeah, because HTC won't release 2.2 for all the phones so they can sell the new ones or they are just lazy.
I had to install Cyanogenmod 6.0 on my Magic and the warranty is gone, but it's worth it (runs waay better than 1.5)
I don't want to have to hack the market too because of bad support (no paid apps in romania...).
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Anonymous , September 29, 2010 12:21 PM

Why? Maybe first they should get some REAL apps on the Android Marketplace first. I bought a Samsung Captivate on the recommendation that there market place and game apps where the greatest. Sadly, Mostly all the games are crap. The only real plus are the emulators which if I wanted to play something that old I would just dust off my Nintendo and play on that. I still find myself playing on my Ipod Touch more then I will ever use my Captivate unless some real developers start producing for the Android.
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orionantares , September 29, 2010 9:27 PM

g-thorNo thanks. I went Android because it's open source. I have no objection to paying for something I want, but DRM it and you lose my dollars.

Well if you want real open source you might want to look into webOS for your next mobile device.