U.K. carrier Vodafone today announced the launch of its Vodafone 360 Shop for Android, which is geared toward helping developers design standard widgets, widgets for Opera Mini and direct-to-carrier billing options. It’s yet another option outside the Android Market, which has seen explosive growth but continues to experience growing pains, including slowdowns, and, over the past week or so, disappearing apps and mis-reported download numbers. Check out Vodafone’s release after the break. [Vodafone]
VODAFONE LAUNCHES 360 SHOP FOR ANDROID
Developers able to create and distribute apps tailored to Android handsets
Tuesday 15th June, 2010. Vodafone today announced that it is to extend the
reach of the Vodafone 360 services with the launch of a 360 Shop for Android.
The announcement highlights Vodafone’s commitment to bringing the 360 Shop
to popular, market-leading handsets and, in so doing, offering developers a
highly attractive native or cross-platform proposition.
The 360 Shop on Android has been designed specifically to ensure that
customers can easily search for and browse the applications most suited to
their needs and interests. This is achieved through a sophisticated
personalised recommendations tool and dynamically changing promotional areas
such as best rated, top downloads, categories and filtered lists. Feature
content promotions will be run by local market editorial experts to further
showcase locally relevant apps. All paid-for content is charged to the
customer through operator billing, with funds regularly transferred into the
developer’s bank account, making it simple for developers to keep track of
revenue.
Through the 360 Shop on Android, Vodafone is giving apps developers the
ability to publish either JIL or native Android apps in the 360 Shop.
Developers can also take advantage of existing Vodafone features such as
clear pricing, a transparent review process and in-depth reporting.
“Developers want to know that their app will be seen by consumers, and the
360 Shop on Android has been designed to maximise opportunities for content
promotion,” said Lee Epting, Director of Content Services at Vodafone
Group. “Initial data is showing that up to a third of the catalogue gets
exposed in a single day. This is a market-leading approach which will allow
both customers and developers to get great value out of the 360 Shop.”
Tailored for the Android operating system and directly accessible from the
handset home screen, the 360 Shop on Android will launch this summer on the
HTC Wildfire and Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro. The 360 Shop is a single
destination for all digital content, integrating music, video, ringtones and
apps, ensuring it will continue to serve the millions of existing Vodafone
live! customers. Furthermore, the handsets will come with 360 Music services
embedded and Vodafone People soon available as a download.
To date, over 8,500 apps have been published to the 360 Shop. Eight European
markets range over 100 different handsets capable of accessing the Vodafone
360 services. With further handsets due to launch throughout the year with
the 360 Shop pre-loaded, Vodafone 360 will continue to provide the developer
community with greater access to more customers.