Comments on: App Stores: Boon, Bane or Both for Mobile Handset Platforms?

By: KenC

KenC — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:26:22 +0000

There may be lots of WinMo apps, but how many are available for any particular handset? When I searched Handango, I was finding results in the low thousands, like 2000 to 3000. When I look at the iPhone, all 25,000+ apps work on both generations of iPhones. The Engadget comparison was not really apples-to-apples.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:56:53 +0000

I understand and I agree. I still don’t see a direct advantage of an app store to me. I was perfectly happy going to Handango. I think that they will fade away now. I agree that indirectly it makes a difference like you describe. Still don’t see the marketing advantage to the developers over being at Handango, but that’s because I don’t know how the specifics work.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:16:36 +0000

Mohit, you *do* realize that it’s perfectly acceptable to leave comments here *without* a link to your blog each and every time, right? ;)

By: Mohit Agrawal

Mohit Agrawal — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:54:59 +0000

The debate is that how would this impact the carrier business? I guess the bigger question is that how would this impact Google’s most awaited innovation in the Telecom business – The Google Android Operating System? I guess Google Android may make carriers wary of Android. Read the great article from Deepak at http://www.telecomcircle.com/2009/03/googlevoice/

By: Gordon Cahill

Gordon Cahill — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:54:09 +0000

That’s just Apple redefining the space. They did it with the ipod, then the iphone and now the app store. They take an existing idea and change it to suit the “Apple way”. And for now it works. So others will jump on board and try to get a bite.

So now companies like Handango will have to change or die. But it’s their call. They can sweeten the incentives to developers, do some advertising etc. Some will change and we move forward. Some won’t and they will perish or fade to a shell of their former selves. I’ve gone from Palm to WinMo and now to iphone. If 3.0 hd not been announced I may have gone to Web OS. Apple responded to the new wave and they will survive. It’s up to Handango and others to make the same leap.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:26:07 +0000

Indirectly, these might be big deals to you (or not as you said). The various applications stores offer more of a cut to the developer. Some apps are getting featured in TV ads. Take those two things that Handango doesn’t offer.

If you were a developer would you be writing apps to sell them in Handango for less money and no mainstream media advertising potential? My money is on the app stores from a developer standapoint and that could mean apps in Handango begin to dry up. It’s a direct impact you at that point, no? Of course, that’s if my assumptions are right, which of course, are arguable.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:43:39 +0000

Fair enough, but they aren’t big deals for *me*.

I am not aware of the difference in revenue for developers between Handango and the app stores. I also don’t see advertizing or brand recognition advantages for a developer at an app store over Handgango.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:46:59 +0000

Device integration, a better financial deal for developers, advertising and brand recognition for starters.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:37:51 +0000

Oh, another thing: I’ve had an app store for years: Handango. What’s the big deal about all these?

By: Pierre

Pierre — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:36:04 +0000

I think the title is misleading: it’s not an App Store thing, it’s a disparate platform thing. I agree with what you’re saying. The emergence of OS after OS is making me nervous, because my OS of choice is losing developers to the iPhone, unfortunately. I’m afraid it will become the weak and sick, to use Gordon’s comparison. I like my OS. I want to find apps for it. But right now, everybody is rushing to iPhone. And then Android appeared too. Sheesh. Any more OSs to confuse things? It was AT&T’s major messaging at MWC in Barca. Nobody cared. Users do, I guess.