The Apple Apps store has downloaded over three billion software applications to iPhone and iPod touch devices. Programmers have created over 150,000 products for the e-commerce operation.
The problem is that : the App store is considered critical to customer loyalty for the iPhone. It allows subscribers to set up an almost infinite set of individualized mix of software for their handsets.
As everybody predicted, Telecom companies are creating an open platform to deliver software applications to a large spectrum of phones. According to Reuters, LG, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson are behind this operation.
A number of large carriers including AT&T (T), Vodafone (VOD), NTT Docomo, and China Mobile (CHL) will support the program.
The most signficant problems the carriers face is whether programmers will do the work necessary to create applications for the new”store” created by the twenty-four carriers. Software developers know that they have a ready customer base with the Apple App store.