Amazon has launched the developer-facing part of its Amazon-run application marketplace store, inviting developers to submit their applications so that they’re ready when the app store is ready for its consumer debut later this year. Initially, the Amazon Appstore is going to be U.S. only.
Earlier last year, Amazon announced that it would be launching an alternative to Google’s Android Market. Amazon’s offering would be a kind of hybrid between the Android Market and Apple’s App Store. It’ll be curated where the Android Market isn’t, but still open to all kinds of apps as long as there is “no pornographic or expressly illegal content,” stated Amazon.
Amazon will be in control of pricing. Developers can submit a list price with their apps, but Amazon will ultimately determine the selling price using various market factors. As has become standard with app stores, Amazon will take a 30% cut though if an app is ever heavily discounted, developers are still guaranteed a minimum of 20% of their list price. Amazon’s rules also dictate that all apps must be safe, do exactly what they say they do, and function properly.
There’re many low-cost Android devices that don’t ship with access to Android Marketplace, so Amazon’s has an excellent opportunity to make some follow-up cash selling apps to customers.
More Info: Amazon Appstore Developer Program
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