Soon after Idea cellular announced its application store, Reliance has also jumped into the bandwagon and announced its own Application store.
Interestingly, both are using Ericsson to provide the technology for these stores. Does that mean similarity in service, only time will tell?
The applications will include games, lifestyle, business, utilities, productivity, travel, finance and more. The application store will also host a number of applications unique to Reliance subscribers.
Company claims that Reliance App World will have a balanced mix of international and India-specific applications, with special focus on providing subscribers with an easy-to-use and attractive user experience regardless of the handset they use (read even low cost handset).
The application store will allow pay once download many service as well as allow users to rate applications and a micro-billing feature (pay per download).
Prashant Gokarn, head — 3G, Reliance Communications, says, “Reliance App World is an endeavor to increase consumer delight by providing a mix of entertainment and utility services to our subscribers.”
The developer program will not only help to provide applications that are personal and relevant to Reliance’s consumers, but will also provide services that can help build loyalty among its customers.
The aim is to get into the growing demand of Applications and the launch of 3G networks. But with so many application stores around from operating system provider like Android, independent players like Getjar and operators like Aircel, does it make a profitable business sense?
Probably it’s not about profitability but just a way to keep the consumer from straying to a service provider who has a better application store on offer.
There is no word on when the service will roll out, but it is expected it will happen before the end of this quarter.