Verizon Wireless is rolling out its very own app store called V CAST Apps as a way of getting a slice of the revenues from applications sold on smartphones.
The launch by the largest U.S. carrier launch is expected Monday, and initially will be available on a very limited basis. It will first be on the BlackBerry Storm with other RIM (NSDQ: RIMM) devices coming shortly, reports Engadget. The store would presumably spread to other mobile operating systems over the next weeks and months.
The downside for the customer is that it means RIM’s own BlackBerry App World won’t come loaded on the device, but Verizon touts a list of other perks for both customers and developers as reasons why they won’t care.
Verizon will follow Apple’s lead, by sharing 70 percent of revenues with developers and by keeping 30 percent for themselves. Developers who choose to use the V CAST Apps store will also have access to the carrier’s billing platform, and other APIs, such as a user’s location. Presumably, customers will enjoy these conveniences, as well. For instance, BlackBerry’s App World is connected to PayPal, not the carrier’s bill. Verizon also said it will help market the applications, including on its web site, which is the No. 26 web property in the U.S. and has 60 million registered users (half of which visit the site every month).
For Verizon, the launch is critical as more of its customers move from feature phones, where it got a cut of applications sales, to smartphones, where users can access applications, content and other entertainment services from a variety of third-parties. Verizon announced the launch of the App store last week at CTIA, where it also launched the new Skype application that let’s its customers talk to other Skype users on an unlimited without using minutes from their plan.
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