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By Bob Violino
The market for mobile application stores is heating up, with companies such as Research In Motion (RIM), Google Inc., Microsoft and Nokia joining Apple Computer Inc. with new portals from which users can access hundreds of new applications designed for specific mobile device platforms.
A key question for technology executives is what value, if any, do these app stores provide to business users? So far, experts say, the usefulness for business appears to be limited. But with the influx of new players in the market, the number of business applications might increase.
"Having many different companies supporting mobile application stores will expand the variety and range of business applications because developers focusing on a particular type of device/operating system will be drawn to using a central site as a distribution channel for their applications," says Michele Pelino, senior analyst at Forrester Research. "This centralized location will provide business users with access to a wide variety of applications designed for their particular mobile device in the store."
There's been no shortage of activity in the mobile app store market in recent months. Apple in July 2008 launched the iPhone App Store with 500 different applications, and within the first week of operation iPhone and iPod users had made more than 10 million downloads, according to the company.
Developers have created a slew of mobile applications for Apple devices, including games, location-based social networking programs, medical applications and enterprise productivity tools. According to an Apple spokeswomen, some 15,000 applications are available in the store and to date users have downloaded 500 million applications.
Other vendors have jumped into the market. Research in Motion (RIM) in October 2008 announced two major distribution initiatives for smartphone applications for its BlackBerry handheld, including an online store called BlackBerry Application Storefront and an application center. RIM began accepting applications and content from developers for inclusion in the storefront in December and the store is scheduled to launch this month.
The storefront will allow developers to set their own prices for applications. RIM is working with PayPal, an online payment service, to provide consumers with a way to pay for applications from BlackBerry smartphones. RIM says it is also working with its carrier partners to provide carrier-customized, on-device application centers to help foster after-market application downloads.
Next: Google Moves Forward with Android Market
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