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Leading Mobile companies to launch localised application stores in India |
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Kolkata: Leading mobile phone manufacturers in India like Nokia, Apple and Research in Motion (RIM) are in the process of launching localised versions of their application stores in the country.
These vendors are also planning to set up a mobile phone apps development ecosystem in the country. Vendors feel apps will be the next big revenue opportunity for them in India, after US and Europe.
The desi version will come with a slew of apps which are customised for the Indian market. `Application store` in industry parlance is all about mobile phone apps which consumers can buy and download on their handsets.
Nokia, which recently debuted its global app store christened `Ovi Store` in India, is planning to launch the localised version by December. While initially `Ovi Store` will be available in smartphones loaded with the Symbian S60 operating system, Nokia will enable the app store in phones across its portfolio by early 2010.
Nokia India Director (Marketing) Vineet Taneja said, "We are currently tying up with Indian developers to roll out local applications. The idea is to create a business model for apps in India so that the developers too can monetise their work."
The company is aiming in areas like location-based services (both GPS and cellphone tower based), music, entertainment, business to even utilities.
Taneja said, "The Ovi Store will offer a platform and billing mechanism to the developers. Billing through operators will be a crucial channel to drive revenue in India."
RIM, the makers of `BlackBerry` smartphones, is also in the process of launching its `BlackBerry App World` in India. Apart from using its internal expertise, RIM is eyeing Indian third-party developers for such apps.
According to a senior RIM India official, "We are currently working towards launch of the app store in India. The apps will be focused around productivity, connectivity, travel, instant messaging, navigation as well as some industry-specific applications. Certain applications will be customised for India."
Industry sources said Apple, which has been a front-runner in operating mobile app store, is also planning to come-up with India-specific applications. An Apple spokesperson informed, "Developers choose which countries their apps will be available. They also set the price for their apps. Customers have downloaded more than one billion applications from the App Store, the largest applications store in the world."
The Apple app store currently features more than 35,000 applications, with more than 50,000 companies and individuals joining the development program. Sony Ericsson too has plans to make a major foray into the app store front in the Indian market, industry sources added.
(Posted on : 02/07/2009)
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| Leading Mobile companies to launch localised application stores in India |
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