There are millions of applications, but then, application stores There's going to be a lot of it. If it was Facebook that recently announced its AppCenter of applications, now it could be Amazon Appstore the one that decided to enter the European market. This application store, available right now only in the United States for Android devices, could migrate and reach our Old Continent, Europe, where he would disembark at some point in the summer, although it would be expected by the end of the hot season.
At the moment it is nothing more than a rumor, provoked by some leaks and statements from sources close to the company. During the month of September of last year, it seemed that Amazon had quietly opened its Appstore internationally. However, it was a great technical error that the company committed and that they quickly resolved, once again limiting access to devices and residents of the United States.
Why Amazon Appstore?
Now, why would a developer launch applications on the Amazon Appstore if they can already do so on Google Play? application fees are the ones that move everything. If Amazon agrees with developers to keep a smaller proportion of the payment for the application than those in Mountain View keep for each Google Play application sold, they will already have a reason to stay with the Amazon Appstore. In addition, visibility in the Fire ecosystem can be an additional incentive.
Current status: Android shutdown, Amazon Coins, and FAQs
Over time, Amazon has announced the Appstore closure on Android devices outside of its own ecosystem. The store will continue to operate in Fire TV y Fire tablet, where it remains relevant, but on Android it is generally no longer available as of an official date towards the end of the summerThis implies that apps obtained in this way could stop working or be left without support, and developers will have to migrate to other platforms if they want to maintain reach.
In parallel, Amazon has discontinued Amazon Coins. It is no longer possible to buy new coins since the end of the winter, and existing ones can only be used until the store's deactivation date on Android. The company has promised refunds of the unused paid balance, and has clarified that they cannot be combine Coins with other payment methods in the same transaction. The balance can be checked on the Appstore home screen.
Availability by country and official channels
Amazon maintains a help page with the list of supported countries and regions to purchase apps on Amazon.com and to install the Appstore. Among them are, in Europe, Spain, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man; and, outside Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, as well as territories such as Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Niue, Norfolk Island and Tokelau. It is necessary to use a amazon account of the corresponding country. For additional questions, Amazon refers to its forum from Appstore.
Kindle Fire would come after
The news is that the Kindle Fire could arrive at the same time, or shortly after the app store, perhaps in the lead up to the sales typical of the end of the year. Along with this, there is talk of the possibility that the service of streaming music from Amazon to Europe, as well as other multimedia services from the company that are not present in our continent. Today, the real scenario shows that the Appstore maintains its focus on Fire devices, reinforcing the strategy of integrating content and purchases within the company's own ecosystem.
The DMA and the role of third-party stores on iOS
The European context adds another relevant piece: Apple has enabled the installing apps from third-party stores on iPhone exclusively in the EU due to compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It is not an open sideloading like on Android, since iOS requires distribution to be done through complete stores, with additional security controls and conditions, and does not allow installing individual packages from the web. Outside the EU, Apple does not plan to extend this change to the malware risks, fraud and illegal content that it points out.
Looking at the direction of the sector, Amazon's commitment to its own distribution channel, the adjustments in Android and the European regulatory framework draw a scenario in which ecosystems and commissions, security, support and reach by market determine which stores thrive and where. The rumored expansion, consolidation on Fire devices, and refocusing on Android are best understood by considering that combination of incentives, costs, and regulations.
