Samsung to launch app store for Symbian, WinMo phones

Samsung will unveil a new mobile applications storefront for Symbian and Windows Mobile devices during this month's Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona. The virtual storefront (an extension of the Samsung Mobile Innovator developer program first announced last year) will offer consumers over-the-air application browsing, purchasing, downloading and installation.

According to Samsung, the store--initially limited to the U.K. market--will offer about 1,100 applications at launch: "For Samsung Mobile Innovator members this represents a fantastic opportunity for them to get their applications to a large Samsung-user audience very quickly," said Samsung Mobile Innovator global marketing manager Phil Northam in a prepared statement, adding that the site will offer both free and premium apps. The handset maker has yet to disclose how it will handle billing, or what percentage of revenues it will award to developers.

The Samsung app store is not the only application storefront expected to grab the spotlight at Mobile World Congress: Microsoft is expected to formally introduce its long-awaited SkyMarket as well. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is among the scheduled keynoters at the event, and the software giant is reportedly poised to announce a series of new mobile initiatives. SkyMarket first came to light in September 2008, and will enable consumers to find, purchase and download applications and content optimized for Windows Mobile devices.

For more on the Samsung app store:
- read this Information Week article

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Are app stores causing more fragmentation?