app stores

Google to pay $19m for bogus kids app purchases

Google on Thursday agreed to settle a Federal Trade Commission complaint over the unfair billing of millions of dollars worth of in-app purchases, to the tune of at least $19m. The case also forced a change in Google’s billing practices as children were the users of the applications which allowed in-app purchases without authorisation.

Google Play sees strong growth driven by freemium model

As the Google I/O developer conference kicks off, a report has emerged charting the stellar growth of the Google Play app store over the past year. According to research and analytics firm App Annie, Google Play has steadily made gains as one of the largest app stores and app publishers are taking note, with the Google app store recently reaching over 1.5 million apps after adding 200,000 more in just six months.

App payments crucial for operators as OTT services erode revenues

Operators are set to see their share of mobile content and commerce revenue drop from 44 per cent in 2011 to 31 per cent in 2016 globally, according to the latest forecasts from Informa Telecoms & Media. This is due to services such as mobile messaging, music, TV and video streaming, location-based services and social-networking increasingly going over-the-top in the next five years.

App downloads surge as Android outstrips Apple

The world’s smartphone users will download a total of 18 billion mobile apps during 2018, up 144 per cent from 7.4 billion in 2010, according to Ovum. The firm forecast that the number of downloads will grow to 45 billion in 2016.

Orange unveils new developer interface

International carrier Orange has announced an overhaul of its own-branded application store that it said will dramatically cut the time it takes for developers to get their apps to Orange customers.

Opera may debut on iPhone soon

The most successful browser in the mobile market, Opera Mini, may be making its way onto the iPhone in the near future. On Tuesday, Opera Mini for iPhone was officially submitted to the Apple iPhone App store for approval.

Motorola opens Chinese app store

Resurgent vendor Motorola opened the doors of its Android focused app store in China on Friday, paving the way for the company’s assault on the burgeoning Chinese mobile market.

Amazon opens app store of sorts

Social network cum online retailer Amazon expanded its empire with the launch of an app store of sorts for the e-reader market.

Mobile app store comes to India

Even the emerging market operators are looking for a slice of the app store action. Indian operator Aircel said Tuesday it has tapped up application services firm Infosys to build it an application store catering to Aircel’s almost 30 million mobile subscribers.

Tesco iPhone undercuts on price

UK supermarket Tesco began selling the Apple iPhone on Monday, at the lowest monthly contract price in the UK market.

T-Mobile introduces carrier billing for Android apps

Wireless carrier T-Mobile strengthened its ties with the Android platform this week, revealing plans to roll out a T-Mobile channel in the Android Market and introduce carrier billing for these apps.

Symbian’s event Horizon

At the Symbian Exchange & Exposition (SEE) taking place in London this week, mobile OS developer the Symbian Foundation officially launched its application publishing platform – Horizon.

Android wins backing from Verizon

Google’s Android platform won significant support from the operator community late Tuesday, when US carrier Verizon Wireless said it had reached a landmark agreement to use the platform to deliver applications, services and devices.

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