Don’t Be Fooled by Imitation App Stores

Several wireless phone carriers are getting ready to take a bite out Apple’s App store. Makes sense since sales for apps were $5 billion this year. (There are estimates that by 2014, it will be $25 billion). So far, Apple offers over 65,000 apps ranging from anything to reading golf greens to digital radio to classifieds to games. Apple says these apps have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times. As part of the plan, imitators are trying to lure away developers and partner with global carriers. Just remember, no matter what type of hype surrounds these new stores, it doesn’t mean they know how to pull it off. Many carriers just don’t have the software and design expertise to seal the deal—and regardless, if it’s not Apple, it’s not a real App.