Google announces Android Market for phone apps
Google on Thursday announced Android Market, an online center that will let people find, buy, download, and rate applications and other content for mobile phones equipped with the open-source operating system.
These screen shots show the Android phone interface to the Android Market. The software shows what applications can be downloaded and reviews of applications that people are browsing.
(Credit: Google)Attracting developer attention is a key part of the Google-led Android software effort, and those who produce applications will have an easy time getting them to the market, Eric Chu of Google's Android project said in a Thursday blog post.
"Similar to YouTube, content can debut in the marketplace after only three simple steps: register as a merchant, upload and describe your content and publish it," Chu said. "We chose the term 'market' rather than 'store' because we feel that developers should have an open and unobstructed environment to make their content available."
Though the first Android phones are planned to arrive later this year, Chu said to expect the initial phone-based Android Market application to be a beta version that might only support distribution of free applications. An update later will handle different versions of applications, support for different profiles of Android phones, and analytics to help developers track adoption.
The move was expected. Google said in May at the Google I/O conference that it would provide a central repository of Android software.
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
"The move was expected."
Google is [almost exactly] following Apple's steps...
But... Will success follow Android?
They are the premier leader in OS design/functionality on a notebook, desktop, or mobile.
Getting software from the "Android Market" somehow just sounds weird to my ear. And I've seen enough sci fi to know that most of the androids are either malevolent, malfunctioning or somehow wind up developing a mind of their own (for good or, more often, ill). Seems like bad mojo.
Ultimately it's about the product itself, but Android seems to me to work better as a code name than a full-on marketing ID.
Here's where Apple and Google differ:
Google - Sign up, upload, and your software is on. The only reason for it to get pulled would be if the software was malicious. Also, background apps and services are allowed.
Apple - Your app gets reviewed in order for it to be deemed worthy of being in the app store. Your app can be subsequently pulled from the app store for little to no reason. Not only can they remove it from the store, but they can kill the app on people's devices via a remote kill switch.
It's the same general idea, but one has an open paradigm while the other is closed. As a developer, I'll always prefer the former.
"Actually, I don't think of this as following Apple so much as Apple and Google both following the typical program repositories available in almost any major Linux distro. "
You are right! Apple follows the Linux distro's model... specially in the $30 millions for developers in the first month part!
google may indeed have something good here and deff. can't wait to see how good is the web on this device
http://kreuzer33.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/google-details-its-android-application-strategy/
OMG- TEACHER!!!
GOOGLE COPIED!!!!
Listen- we all know that nobody can pry Apple fanboys away from Apple- unless Jobs quits or dies. So, stop worrying. You can still have your iPhone- nobody will come and steal it out of your parent's basement while you're playing D&D.
Those of us who are adult enough to manage our own software will buy an android handset, Apple fanboys will buy an iPhone, business people will keep their Crackberries, and everyone else will get whichever phone is cheapest.
You don't have to fear new devices coming to market. Every device has a place, and those that don't will fail.
- by anshulbatra October 22, 2008 12:31 PM PDT
- yeah i think th egoogle android market all the applications is going to be free... as google officially said that its a universal platform and this means that they dont want to us for downloading the applications ...
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(12 Comments)Also... ithink android will be coming to AT&T somewhat begining of the year!!! thats what my guess!!!
and apple should drop their iphone price...by at least '$50 ...to make it more competitive with the new android...