Amazon Might Make a Tablet, Separate Android App Store
Amazon may expand beyond the Kindle e-book reader, according to new information from TechCrunch. The company reportedly has plans to make a tablet and launch a separate app store for Android apps.
TechCrunch cites several sources saying that Amazon wants to cash in on the app craze with its own app store. Amazon plans to pay developers 70 percent of the purchase price or 20 percent of the list price, whichever is greater. The list price simply prevents developers from undercutting the prices of similar apps or other app stores.
Amazon is also demanding the developers update their apps whenever they update apps made for other app stores, and Amazon Android apps must have Amazon digital rights management (DRM) software embedded. Both of these requirements are likely to alienate some developers, not to mention the fact that Amazon reserves the right to change the price or even remove an app completely from the store at any time.
The move is not unprecedented, though. Several tablet manufacturers and even the Verizon network are working on their own app stores in order to capitalize on consumer interest in apps.
Of course, an app store just wouldn't be complete without a tablet to use it , and a source also indicates Amazon plans to launch an Android tablet. There is less information about this rumor, but it seems that an official announcement is expected soon.
