WebProNews

Samsung Electronics announced today it will launch a new app store for its smartphone users on September 14.

The app store will open in the U.K., France and Italy, with more than 30 countries including Germany and Spain to follow. Initially the store will be focused on users of Omnia and I8910 HD devices and later expand to other models.

Users will be able to browse a variety of applications including games, references, social networking, e-books and health related tools.

The app store is available in English, French and Italian and supports credit card and phone billing through the mobile store. Additional languages, devices and features will be added throughout the year.

Ho Soo Lee, Samsung
Executive VP
Media Solution Center

More than 300 applications will be available at launch, and Samsung said it expects to grow to over 2,000 by the end of 2009. Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Handmark, TAITO, Paragon SW, Capcom, Com2us, Prompt, Pearson Longman, Bokan Tech and Diotek are among the providers of applications to the store.

"With the launch of the Application Store, Samsung will increase mobile phone sales and add value for its mobile customers through the availability of carefully selected applications," said Ho Soo Lee, Executive Vice President of Samsung's Media Solution Center.

"The Application Store will expand the service channel, not only on handheld devices but also on PCs through the launch of new PC software. The software will allow customers to download applications and manage them on a PC to maximize service usability."