Watch out Google. Amazon.com is opening its own Android app store. Amazon’s store will officially open later this year, but the e-tailer is gearing up by inviting developers to submit applications so Amazon can vet them before the store debuts to the public.
Much like Apple’s App Store, Amazon will approve applications submitted to the Amazon Appstore Developer Portal before adding them to the store. Amazon’s efforts open an alternative to Google’s Android Market, which is not new, but Amazon is the only one with clout. It also cuts down on junk apps and malware.
Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, noted that “Amazon is the first retailer to do a store, and they will differentiate on marketing the apps and higher quality control. This could be a big game changer because, after all, this is a store.”
Al Hilwa, an analyst at IDC, said Amazon is doing what it’s good at — being a merchant. As he sees it, there’s a need to do a better job organizing, categorizing and presenting Android apps, and Amazon homed in on the need.
“Does it help the platform to have its wares in multiple stores? Well, it hurts its reputation of simplicity and user experience, but it is a testament to the success of the platform, not to mention its openness that others want to jump in, solve problems, and make money,” Hilwa said. “Android is and will be ubiquitous, and it is not going to win the long-term awards for user experience. This leaves room for other players to hold the high end of user experience, potentially making more profitable businesses, if not necessarily winning market-share wars.”
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