LG opens online Application Store in Australia and Singapore

Damian Koh | Jul 15, 2009

Right on cue. LG has opened the doors to its online Application Store in Australia and Singapore.

The Web-based portal will gradually be rolled out to 24 countries globally in 15 different languages. About 1,400 apps, from business to lifestyle and productivity, are available and the number is expected to grow to 2,000 by the end of this year.

Two LG Windows Mobile smartphones--GM730 and KS20--currently support the service, though the Korean chaebol expects to make it available for more devices in the future. GM730 users are able to download apps directly from their handset, while KS20 users are advised to download on the PC and then install it on the device. According to LG, over 100 programs are free for GM730 and KS20 users.

Java and Widget software development kits (SDK) are available online. These will aid developers in writing widgets (mini apps) and programs for LG handsets. The Korean chaebol said that the Application Store is positioned as a value-added service and the apps will be tested by the company and content providers in order to make sure they work properly on the devices.

Will LG's Application Store take off? Well, it'll be a tough fight as third-party Windows Mobile apps are readily available online. What the Korean company can offer is download convenience for LG phone users and programs customized specifically for its devices.

The other bottleneck is the lack of supported devices, which may potentially deter developers from spending time writing the programs. Furthermore, LG's not alone in this space. Apple, Nokia, Research In Motion, Samsung and, most recently, Singapore-based telco operator SingTel are offering similar online app services. At last count, Apple has more than 65,000 programs in the App Store and users have downloaded more than 1.5 billion applications since its launch a year back.

Filed under: Mobile Phones
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