With Apple and Google’s on-device application stores already peddling the wares and RIM’s BlackBerry Application Center just around the corner, Palm’s making an effort to not get left behind. This evening, Palm launched an official on-device application store for both Windows Mobile and Palm OS powered handsets.
With “App Store”, “Market”, and “Application Center” all spoken for, Palm’s going with “Software Store”. With that, the store name tap is just about all dried up.
Unlike the aforementioned others, Palm’s not toughing it alone. Palm has called on PocketGear, an app distributor which has rounded up around 50,000 smartphone applications since launching in June of 2008, to power the boutique. It’s a bit strange to see a handset manufacturer so openly sharing their application store’s spotlight with a third party, but it ensures that Palm’s got a full catalog on day one. At launch, over 1,500 developers have already submitted their virtual goods to the Software Store
Of course, bringing in third parties means more hands in the cookie jar. Whereas Google and Apple are both giving developers 70% of the cut and RIM has upped the bar to 80%, Palm is cutting it right down the middle: 50% of gross revenue goes to the developer, and 50% goes to the other parties involved.
Might this smaller cut limit developer interest? Perhaps. But Palm has one strength here: their device lineup. Of all the on-device application stores currently up and running, Palm’s got the widest array of handsets. Apple’s got three (iPhone/iPhone 3G/iPod Touch) and, until more Android devices start rolling out, Google’s only got the G1. At launch, the Software Store is already pushing purchases to over 25 Palm devices.
Palm users can grab the Software Store here.
50% ? Wow, that’s quite a chunk to take. Let’s see if the whole world gets upset and complains about this like they did about the 30% Apple is taking.
Correction: Apple has more than 2 devices, since the iPod Touch also supports App Store.
Ah, thanks – knew I was forgetting something.
This is just a sad story. I’ve been a long time Palm user (from the US Robotics day) and I am on my 3rd Treo phone. It’s clear to me that Palm is pretty much out of the game now. They officially dropped support of java on their phones last year – you need to jump through hoops to get apps to run and very few of the new apps developers seem to want to make a version for a non-Win Mobile Palm phone.
Sad part is the original app store for phones was based on the Palm OS years ago. I’ve spent far more on apps for my phones than I spent on the phones themselves. In a month or so, I’m likely going to give in and get an iPhone.
Yeah this is exactly why I bought an iPhone when my Treo 700 died after only a year of use. I couldn’t take Palm’s tepid pace of innovation anymore. Being this late to the app store game is just another perfect example.
The App Store is basically a link to the web page http://software.palm.com/us/mobile/, there’s not even an unique icon for the app. (It uses Internet Explorer’s icon.)
This is a huge load of crap. Unless their new OS is really completely different, in every aspect, they’re doomed. With lots of luck, Microsoft might snap them up.
And for the 7 or so palm users left, this will help them prolong buying a new phone for another 6 months.
“But Palm has one strength here: their device lineup. Of all the on-device application stores currently up and running, Palm’s got the widest array of handsets.”
I think your missing the point here.
Having more devices isn’t necessarily something to boast about, because it means more form factors which means developers cannot easily target their applications.
Apple has a distinct advantage here, because the developers understand the hardware features that they are developing for
e.g. GPS/Wifi/Screen Size/Touch Screen/No Keyboard/In-built GPU
Palm, really? I wasn’t sure they were around anymore; I rarely see them in the mass stores these days. Too little, too late on the “App Store” news here.