Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Amazon has announced its plan to roll out the Android Appstore today in over 200 countries around the world including India. The company has called on developers to submit their apps for distribution in the countries that are part of the newest rollout.
The Appstore is set to hit 200 new markets like Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and even the Vatican City. Amazon informed registered developers who are keen to distribute internationally that their apps will be made available in the “coming months when the Amazon Appstore for Android launches internationally for consumers.” And the Appstore’s one free app a day offer would attract the most attention, we are sure.
Amazon has slowly been making its advance into India over the past couple of years. While the Kindle e-book readers have already been on sale in India, there hasn’t been any further activity from Amazon’s end in the country. The launch of the Appstore in India could be an indication that Amazon believes the country’s market is ripe for Kindle Fire tablets too.
Coming soon
However, the entry of the Appstore will ensure that even while the country waits for Kindle Fire devices, an app ecosystem for the platform based on Android is already available for use. The app, which is available for download from the Play Store will ensure that you will be able to make purchases from the Amazon Store.
Amazon is also said to be making a smartphone and Foxconn is rumoured to be manufacturing it. According to reports that emerged in November, the Kindle phone should be ready to be launched sometime in mid to end 2013. With the rollout of the Appstore to a multitude of countries currently, the markets will be ripe for the Kindle Phone.
It only makes sense for Kindle Fire devices to be introduced in India considering even Google has realised the potential of tablet sales in the country. Google released its much awaited tablet Nexus 7 in India exclusively through its Play Store earlier last month. We could be looking at an interesting war of tablets if Amazon puts the Kindle Fire up for sale here.
At the time of the Appstore's imminent entry into India, even Google has stepped up its game by launching Play Books and Play Movies in India earlier this year. The search giant is also said to be working on bringing in operator billing support in the country with the revamped Play Store.
