Amazon is about to open its own app store. I say that's a good thing. Both for users
and devs.
Going to ask the same question I asked on Twitter:
As a user, would you rather have Tesco only or Tesco + 10 other supermarkets + independent deli shops?
If you are up for one single big supermarket only, good luck with that. I rather have no monopoly and let the competition drive innovation. Google's official Android Market sucks big time. The web interface is a joke and the mobile app just about. Look at what
Amazon is bringing to the table:
* App pre-orders
* Video uploads
* Content is tested
* Switch an app from free to paid as you like
Now take that
in-your-face Google. What you think Google is going to do? Stay still and loose app share or put its market together by matching what Amazon has done and offer even better features?
What about an app store with an API so I can publish, update and manage apps as part of an automated process? What about vertical app stores (games, health, education, porn, for TV only, for cars only, ...)? What about luxury app stores? What about app stores that are successful cause they do a service by getting rid of the shitty apps and you only find quality?
Yeah, as a developer Amazon would be yet another app store to deal with, but I've never heard brands such as CocaCola or Nike complaining about
more places to sell.
Oh, boy, several app stores, that is so confusing for users!No, it's not. Does your granny get confused because she can buy milk both at Tesco and Sainsbury's? No, she doesn't. She buys in either:
a) what is closest
b) what is cheaper
c) what she trusts the most
a) doesn't apply on the internet (although it kind of does if you consider localisation), so she will choose either what's cheaper or what she trusts the most. Is there a chance that she will buy on a dodgy app store? Well, yeah. That's where users need to learn to apply common sense in the Internet, same as they do on the real world. Does it look too good to be true? It probably is, so stay well away. Simples.
And by the way, I think the way to go is buying either off the original application website or following a link from there. Example, you want to buy ustwo™'s most anti-social app
Happy Snapper™ (coming soon to Android!)? Either buy at
android.ustwo.co.uk or from link in the official page to your app store of choice. As with real life products, a brand (ustwo™) will choose where to sell (Android Market, Amazon,
GetJar, direct, etc).
And remember,
the fact that there are several app stores does not force users to buy nor devs to sell in all of them.
Happy that I can choose.
PS: not sure this is possible, but I wish app stores legalese would allow a one-to-rule-them-all dev entry point. IE: I upload my app to ONE website and it automatically uploads it to my app stores of choice. Anyone?