POSTED February 15, 2010 16:11 Mobile companies are planning their own App Store

• by Astrid Henrich

According to “Times Online” an alliance of twelve of the world’s leading mobile-phone operators – including AT&T, Orange and Telefonica – will announce their rival technology to Apple’s App Store at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona tomorrow.

Handset makers Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG are also believed to be supportive. The development and sale of Apps is a lucrative source of income, as a study by market research firm Gartner shows. During last year 2.5 billion apps have been downloaded, generating revenues of almost three billion euros. Gartner forecasts worldwide revenues from downloads reaching nearly five billion euros in 2010, and surpassing 21 billion euros by 2013.

So far, Apple was able to make good use of its role as a pioneer in the market: 99.4 percent of all sold apps in 2009 were purchased through Apple’s App Store. However, with a combined audience of 2 billion customers for the new alliance’s app store, market shares might soon shift.

15.02.2010 – mashable:  AT&T and Others Announcing Rival to Apple App Store
14.02.2010 – Business.timesonline:  Mobile phone operators' war on Apple apps