TechCrunch is reporting that online retailer Amazon.com is setting the stage to start offering Android apps through their own service. Amazon Appstore will offer Android applications which have been approved by Amazon, much like Apple’s App Store but is expected to be more lenient in regards to what content is approved. Amazon also intends to set pricing for all products offered on the service but will allow content providers to set a baseline price which they will always receive a set percentage of regardless of whatever promotional offers Amazon may determine.
Developers may be turned off by yearly service charges Amazon intends to charge for the privilege of submitting games. They are currently offering the first year free to entice folks to give them a shot but will be charging $99 a year for access in the future.
As someone who is about to leap headlong into using Android, this sounds like a very good thing. It sounds like there’s something of a wild frontier running out there and getting some cowpokes to corral some of the better stock would be very helpful. And a hundred bucks to get in front of the eyes of people who appreciate that seems like a small price to pay.
Amazon’s Disruptive Android App Store Now Open To Developers… [TechCrunch via GamesIndustry]
