Planet M, a music retail store which also sells mobile phones and other electronics, will soon start selling mobile phone applications through its stores. The launch of the service is planned for August.
Sources aware of the development in the company said to ‘The Mobile Indian, “The retail store will sell both free and paid App for all the major smartphone platforms, which users can even try before the actual buying.”
The source further revealed, “This will be a first of its kind store and has a huge potential in terms of user education and reaching out to not so tech savvy (who are not comfortable with online purchases) or those who do not have access to credit cards. The stores will also provide help to users in understanding how the applications work.”
Though the spokesperson of the company confirmed that the launch is planned for August, he said the details are still being worked out. More details are likely to emerge soon.
With applications market booming with millions of app downloads every day, it looks like the right move especially in India where operator billing option is not available for most online application stores, thereby making credit card or debit card mandatory for application purchases.
Planet M, with more than 200 stores in 32 cities across India, has the resources to reach out to potential customers in a big way. This move will also appeal to college going kids who know all about applications but might not have credit cards to make the purchase.