The Application Store will open in the UK, France and Italy, with more than 30 countries including Germany and Spain to follow. Initially, the store will be accessible to Omnia and I8910 HD users and later to other models such as Omnia II and Omnia Lite users.
The Samsung Application Store allows users to browse a variety of applications including games, references, social networking, e-books and health-related tools (such as pedometers and eye tests) that are easily downloaded with one click.
In order to activate the service, Omnia and I8910 HD users will need to upgrade their devices. Omnia customers can download and install the mobile client from the website www.samsungapps.com. I8910 HD customers can simply upgrade their software by selecting the Application Download icon on their phones.
The on-device client is available in English, French and Italian and supports credit card and phone billing through the mobile application store. Users who haven’t signed up as a member of the Application Store can purchase free applications and paid applications through the phone billing payment option. Additional languages, devices and features will be added throughout the year.
The Application Store is designed to automatically display the relevant application catalogue available for a user’s specific Samsung mobile phone model, and works over mobile networks and WiFi.
Over 300 native applications meeting Samsung’s content guidelines will be available at launch, expected to grow to over 2,000 by the end of 2009. Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Handmark, TAITO, Paragon SW, Capcom, Com2us, Prompt, Pearson Longman, Bokan Tech and Diotek are among the providers of applications to the Samsung Application Store.
“Samsung is a proven leader in delivering a fantastic end-to-end mobile experience and continues to demonstrate its dedication to its customers with the new Samsung Application Store,” said Paul Reddick, CEO of Handmark. “As the exclusive content aggregator for the store, we are excited to bring the largest catalogue of both Handmark content as well as popular titles from our extensive network of partners to Samsung customers on day one.”
Hosoo Lee, executive vice president of Samsung’s Media Solution Centre, added: “With the launch of the Application Store, Samsung will increase mobile phone sales and add value for its mobile customers through the availability of carefully selected applications. The Application Store will expand the service channel, not only on handheld devices but also on PCs through the launch of new PC software. The software will allow customers to download applications and manage them on a PC to maximize service usability.”
Samsung Application Store will be demonstrated at the IFA 2009, the IT and CE trade show in Berlin from 4-9 September.