Handango to offer premium Android apps

Smartphone content provider Handango will offer both premium and free apps for the first device based on Google's Android mobile OS when T-Mobile USA launches the G1 handset on Oct. 22. While Google's own Android Market will offer only free apps at its inception, Handango will enable developers to sell their Android applications via the web, either establishing a one-time purchase fee or instituting monthly, quarterly or annual subscription fees. According to Handango, it will feature Android applications including EA Mobile's Tetris, The Weather Channel for Android, Big in Japan's ShopSavvy and iambic's EzQuote.

In addition, Handango will sponsor a contest to honor the best free Android app and the best premium Android app uploaded to its catalog by Nov. 7. Each winner is eligible to receive a $25,000 advertising allowance across Handango's various marketing channels, including email, search, online advertising and affiliate programs. Winners will be announced on Dec. 15.

For more on Handango's Android effort:
- read this release

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