Android Market Competes for Android Apps?

Earlier this month, Amazon.com released the developer side of their android market projected to be released later this year.  That’s right, the Android Market on Google will soon have competition in selling…droid apps.  This is going to change how the app markets are viewed, but is it going to get the draw that Amazon is hoping for?

The Tech Crunch article “Amazon’s Disruptive Android App Store Now Open to Developer - Full Details” offers a very good overview of the the background and information on the differences between the Android Market and the Amazon Market.

With multiple markets offering the same app, a variety of issues could arise for any developer. 

Developers may end up needing to keep two completely different versions of their app for each market.  Currently the Android Market has no review process and allows you to upload your application for a $25 annual fee.  The new Amazon market will require a $99 annual fee and will require you to get your app approved through them first.  This means you either push back your release date for the Android Market, or you put out your first version in hopes that it’s approved by Amazon as well, keeping them in sync.  Also, if you have multiple versions of the same app, one version may be more up to date than the other.  Then the question arises to which is better and how can the average user know which to choose?

Support for your customers could become confusing very quickly.  Since the apps will be hosted in two completely different locations, you will always run the risk that your customers will buy your product multiple times.  This does mean more money for you the developer, but this could cause frustration on the part of the customer for overpaying.  Supporting these apps also means that you need to know where it was purchased to properly help them with whatever they may need.

This change does have one silver lining for the customer though, the chance to ‘shop’.  Amazon has said that they will hold the right to adjust the price of the app at any time ‘based on market prices’.  This means the customer could actually find an app cheaper somewhere else (Amazon), whereas currently they don’t get a choice, they pay whatever the developer says.

Amazon may be the first to offer mobile apps in a location outside of the parent OS, but I would guess this is only the beginning.  Google will need to keep on the top of their game to ensure they don’t loose customers to other developments like this.