Samsung opens application store

Samsung Electronics said yesterday it will launch its long-awaited online software and content store on Sept. 14, joining its rivals in tapping the fast-growing smartphone market.

The Samsung Application Store will be initially launched in three European countries - the United Kingdom, France and Italy - and will expand into 30 nations including Germany and Spain, the world`s No. 2 handset maker said.

A Samsung spokesperson said the launch of its app store in the U.S. and Korean markets is uncertain, saying those markets are led by mobile operators which also vie for a piece of the App Store pie.



Samsung`s application store will initially support all of the company`s smartphones powered by Windows Mobile, Symbian or Android operating systems, the spokesperson said. The service will also be expanded into other high-end handsets, allowing users to use a variety of content such as games on their phones, he said.

Following the huge success of Apple`s App Store, handset vendors, operating system providers and mobile operators have all been scrambling to roll out their own versions of an App Store in an attempt to cash in surging demand for smartphones which run a variety of applications.

For handset manufacturers, content has become an important factor affecting consumers` purchasing decisions, industry officials said. Apple`s AppStore, which offers a pool of clever, entertaining and useful applications, has played a major role in driving sales of the company`s iPhone, they said.

"With the launch of the Application Store, Samsung will increase mobile phone sales and add value for its mobile customers through the availability of carefully selected applications," said Lee Ho-soo, executive vice president of Samsung`s Media Solution Center.

Samsung Application Store will offer games, references, social networking, e-books, health-related and many other tools that can be downloaded directly onto a phone. Users can pay for applications by credit card or via phone billing.

Samsung will initially offer 300 applications, and will expand the number to over 2,000 by the end of this year, the company said.

Samsung has long prepared for the rollout of its online marketplace for applications, launching an app store beta program in February and subsequently rolling out separate websites for software developers and sellers.

Through its eco-system linking developers, sellers and buyers, Samsung will offer differentiated content and services to its customers.

"Although Apple holds a small share in the global market, some developers made fortunes by selling their applications on Apple`s App Store. As we are the No.2 handset maker, our application store will be a lot more attractive to developers," the Samsung spokesperson said. Samsung plans to demonstrate its application store at the upcoming IFA consumer electronics show scheduled to begin in Berlin on Sept. 4.

(hjjin@heraldm.com)



By Jin Hyun-joo