Android Market

With hopes to rival the iPhone App Store, Google unveiled the first details of the Android Market on August 28, 2008. The Android Market was launched with 43 applications on October 22, 2008. The source code for the Android platform was made available for free on October 21, 2008, and the Market opened its doors to developers on October 27, 2008.¹² The market sells applications which can be used on the Google Android open source mobile platform. It features a feedback and rating system, similar to YouTube.³

Fast Facts

1. Android Market launched with 43 Apps on October 22, 2008
2. Android source code available for free on October 21, 2008
3. Android Market opened to developers on October 27, 2008
4. Details released on August 28, 2008³
5. T-Mobile G1 unveiled on September 23, 2008
6. For use with the open source mobile platform Google Android³
7. Contains a feedback and rating system³
8. Allows developers to publish and sell applications³
9. Google held a $10 million contest to entice developers to create Android applications⁴
10. Has a so-called "kill switch" to remove problematic applications⁵

About the Market

In a post on the Android Developers Blog, Eric Chu described how developers can publish and sell their own applications and assured customers that many free applications would also be available.³ Chu explained that Google chose the term 'market' over 'store' as they want to make it an open and unobstructed environment for developers.³ Gizmodo pointed out another major difference from the App Store and the Android Market. Google will not require an approval process for applications, referring to the mysterious black box of approval that developers face when posting to the App Store.⁶

What is Android?

Android is the first open and free Mobile platform, created by a group of more than 30 technology and mobile companies, the Open Handset Alliance. The Android Platform is a stack of Mobile devices including an operating system, middleware and key applications.¹ Google's Android Market is an open content distribution system.

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Google Android | Google | iPhone App Store | Google Android Phone | Google Phone | Google Android Phone Reviews | T Mobile G1 | T Mobile G1 Apps | Google Phone vs. iPhone | T Mobile G1 Wallpapers | T Mobile G1 Downloads | Asus Android

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