Samsung store to open in Europe on September 14
Published: 1 September, 2009
READ MORE: Europe | Samsung | App Store
Just two weeks after Samsung opened up its previously locked-down TouchWiz user interface to developers, aiming to improve its smartphones' apps competiveness, it has announced a launch date for its long promised software store. The shop will open in the UK, France and Italy initially, on September 14, and then roll out in a further 30 countries this year.
The more vendor or operator stores that emerge, the less likely any of them looks to repeat the success of Apple's offering, especially as most of the major content vendors - those with the power to differentiate one shop from another - are keeping their options open. So some of the largest pre-announced partners for Samsung's Application Store, such as Electronic Arts and Gameloft, have already featured in App Store, Ovi Store and others. There will be 300 apps at launch, says Samsung, which will rise to 2,000 by year end.
However, Samsung knows that, at least in the short term, a store is de rigeur to make a smartphone competitive, and it aims to leverage its bright AMOLED screens, heavy duty video capabilities and other hardware advantages to deliver a superior experience of the programs purchased in its storefront.
Located at www.samsungapps.com, the shop will initially run on the Omnia and i8910 HD, followed by the about-to-launch Omnia II and Omnia Lite. Existing Omnia users will have to upgrade their phones with a download icon, which will be available on the store's site. Users will be able to pay for content with credit cards or a subscription, or via their operator bill.
The early emphasis on Windows Mobile handsets shows Samsung trying to pick off what may be perceived as the weakest player in smartphone software, boosting the WinMo experience with its own store and overlay. But other phones will soon run the store, including the Korean giant's first Android model, the i7500 or Galaxy, which is now available in France and, after a delay of several weeks, via O2 UK.
The i7500 comes in a superslim format with 3.2-inch AMOLED display, 7.2Mbps HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, 8Gb of memory plus microSD slot, plus 5-megapixel camera and headphone jack.
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