Amazon joins app store action

Web giant Amazon entered the app store fray on Tuesday, with the launch of its own, appropriately named Appstore, which is geared up for Android devices.

Flying the flag for the new app store is mobile games firm Rovio’s Angry Birds Rio, which is available exclusively on the Amazon store for free. There’s already a lot of competition in this space, so Amazon has promised to offer a premium app for free every day to keep the numbers coming in. Another feature designed to set the marketplace apart is Test Drive, which allows customers to test apps on a simulated Android phone.

“Test Drive lets customers truly experience an app before they commit to buying. It is a unique, new way to shop for apps,” said Paul Ryder, vice president of electronics for Amazon.com. “Our customers have told us that the sheer number of apps available can make it hard to find apps that are high quality and relevant to them. We’ve spent years developing innovative features that help customers discover relevant products.”