Samsung Joins the App Store Party

Samsung will be the latest handset maker to get an app store of its own. The company announced plans to introduce a marketplace for games and other applications from developers that will launch Sept. 14.

The app store will initially be available in Europe. And only select models of Samsung phones, including the Omnia and I8910 HD devices can access the app store, says the company.

Samsung is late to the game. Since Apple introduced the iPhone App Store as a centralized clearing house for mobile applications in 2008, app stores have become an important part of the business strategy for most handset makers. BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion, Palm and Nokia have all launched app stores this year. Even cellphone carrier Verizon has been courting developers to create programs for its users.

The lack of Samsung’s app store’s availability in the U.S. is likely to dampen developer interest in its announcement. Earlier this month, the company announced the availability of a mobile widget software developer kit (SDK). The SDK would allow programmers to create widgets for different Samsung phones that use different operating systems, including the company’s own version. The company also plans to hold a widget developer camp in San Francisco from September 11-13.

For Samsung, that may not be enough to woo developers away from Apple, Palm and Android.

See Also:

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• Palm Pre App Store to Get Paid Apps in September


• Nokia Ovi App Store Faces Turbulent Start


• Happy Birthday App Store. It’s Been a Good Year


• Coder’s Half-Million-Dollar Baby Proves iPhone Gold Rush Is Still ..


• Report: Sony Readies PSP ‘App Store’

Photo:� (Aquila/Flickr)

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