Amazon Appstore

The Amazon Appstore launched on March 22, 2011 and was made available in nearly 200 countries.{{cite web|author=Amazon.com |url=https://developer.amazon.com/post/Tx3IJP9TKDQOXS5/Developers-Can-Now-Distribute-Apps-in-Nearly-200-Countries-Worldwide-on-Amazon.html |title=Developers Can Now Distribute Apps in Nearly 200 Countries Worldwide on Amazon - Amazon Mobile App Distribution Blog |publisher=Developer.amazon.com |date=2013-05-23 |access-date=2013-11-27}}{{Primary source inline|date=October 2022}} Developers are paid 70% of the list price of the app or in-app purchase.{{cite web|url=http://sigitarinto.com/2011/03/22/amazon-app-store/ |title=Amazon Appstore | Android |publisher=SigitArinto.com |date=2011-03-22 |access-date=2011-04-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827070545/http://sigitarinto.com/2011/03/22/amazon-app-store/ |archive-date=2011-08-27 }} Notable features that were included on launch included a "Free App of the Day" promotion, which offered different paid apps at no charge daily,{{cite web |author=Jason Kincaid |date=2011-03-22 |title=Amazon's Android App Store Launches: Test Drive Apps Directly From Your Browser |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/03/22/amazon-android-app-store-3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328065244/http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/22/amazon-android-app-store-3/ |archive-date=28 March 2011 |access-date=2011-04-05 |publisher=Techcrunch.com}} and "Test Drive", which allowed users to demo apps in a web browser using a Adobe Flash client virtualized Android instance running on Amazon EC2.{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=2015-04-17 |title=Amazon Shuts Down TestDrive, The Appstore Feature That Let You Try Apps Before Downloading |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/04/17/amazon-shuts-down-testdrive-the-appstore-feature-that-let-you-try-apps-before-downloading/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

In September 2011, Amazon announced the Amazon Fire tablet, which uses Amazon Appstore as its main source of apps.{{cite web |last=Tung |first=Liam |date=September 20, 2011 |title=Amazon opens global Appstore by stealth |url=http://www.itnews.com.au/News/272516,amazon-opens-global-appstore-by-stealth.aspx |access-date=March 18, 2013 |publisher=Itnews.com.au}}{{Cite web |last=Savov |first=Vlad |date=2011-09-28 |title=Amazon Kindle Fire price and specs revealed: 7-inch IPS display, dual-core processor, $199 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/9/28/2457354/amazon-kindle-fire-price-specs-release-date |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} Ahead of the official release of Fire, Appstore was updated to include parental controls, a manager for subscriptions, and UI updates to adhere to the Fire's Android user interface.{{Cite web |last=Parish |first=Joseph |date=2011-11-11 |title=Amazon Appstore gets updated to version 2.0, adds subscription support |url=https://www.theverge.com/android/2011/11/10/2552886/amazon-appstore-update-subscriptions-support |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}

In May 2013, Amazon introduced Amazon Coins as a form of payment for purchasing apps, games, and in-app purchases from the store.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/14/amazon-coins-virtual-currency|title=Amazon launches Coins virtual currency|last=Flood|first=Alison|date=2013-05-14|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-05-26|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} In August 2013, Amazon Appstore added support for HTML5 web apps.{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=2013-08-07 |title=Amazon Appstore Now Open To Web Apps, With One-Click In-App Purchases In Tow |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/08/07/amazon-appstore-now-open-to-web-apps-with-one-click-in-app-purchases-in-tow/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

The Test Drive feature was decommissioned in April 2015; Amazon stated that the service had been in decline, partly due to many apps not supporting the feature, and the increasing prevalence of the free-to-play business model making it obsolete.

In August 2015, Amazon Appstore replaced its daily free app program with "Actually Free", which was modeled after the Kindle Unlimited program. Apps in the program were offered at no charge to users, with Amazon paying revenue to developers based on per-minute usage of the apps by end-users.{{Cite web |last=Singleton |first=Micah |date=2015-08-26 |title=Amazon launches Underground to promote free apps and games |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/26/9210071/amazon-underground-free-apps |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=2017-04-29 |title=Amazon is shutting down its 'Underground Actually Free' program that gives away free Android apps |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/28/amazon-is-shutting-down-its-underground-actually-free-program-that-gives-away-free-android-apps/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} By contrast, developers did not receive any revenue for apps offered under the previous free app promotions.{{cite web |date=2011-07-05 |title=Amazon Appstore, Not so Amazing |url=http://gigaom.com/2011/07/05/amazon-appstore-not-so-amazing/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709060730/http://gigaom.com/2011/07/05/amazon-appstore-not-so-amazing/ |archive-date=9 July 2011 |access-date=2011-07-06 |publisher=GigaOM}} The "Actually Free" collection was accessible via a section of Amazon Appstore on Fire OS, but required users to download the separate "Amazon Underground" app (a version of the main Amazon retail app that integrated Appstore) on other Android devices.{{cite web |date=2015-08-26 |title=Amazon Ditches Its Free App Of The Day In Favor of Amazon Underground, With '$10,000 Worth of Apps And Games That Are Actually Free' |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/08/26/amazon-ditches-its-free-app-of-the-day-in-favor-of-amazon-underground-with-10000-worth-of-apps-and-games-that-are-actually-free/?amp |access-date=2020-10-30 |work=Androidpolice.com}}

In August 2017, Amazon announced that the Actually Free program would be discontinued, citing other monetization options such as Coins and Merch on Demand. The shutdown occurred in phases, with the program ending in 2019.

On March 5, 2024, Amazon and Microsoft announced deprecation of Windows Subsystem for Android, which allowed installation of Android apps on Windows 11. The companies immediately restricted new installations of Amazon Appstore and other apps on Windows 11, but pledged to continue serving updates for existing installations until March 5 2025.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2024-03-05 |title=Microsoft to end its Android apps on Windows 11 subsystem in 2025 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/5/24091370/microsoft-windows-11-android-apps-end-of-support |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}

On February 20, 2025, Amazon updated its support pages to announce that Amazon Appstore for Android will cease to function on August 20, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=2025-02-20 |title=Amazon’s Appstore is pulling Android support |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/616646/amazon-appstore-ending-android-support |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Whitwam |first=Ryan |date=2025-02-20 |title=Amazon remembers it has an Android app store, kills it |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/amazon-remembers-it-has-an-android-app-store-kills-it/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}}

When the Amazon Appstore for Android launched in March 2011, it had about 3,800 apps. It reached 80,000 apps in June 2013 and 240,000 apps in June 2014.[http://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-appstore-triples-selection-240000-apps Amazon Appstore triples selection to 240,000 apps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714212416/http://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-appstore-triples-selection-240000-apps|date=2014-07-14}} June 2014. In June 2015, the app store had nearly 334,000 apps.[https://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b?node=2350149011 Amazon App Store for Android]. Retrieved 23 June 2015. As of October 9, 2019, the Amazon Appstore features 487,083 applications available for download.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/307330/number-of-available-apps-in-the-amazon-appstore/|title=Amazon Appstore: number of available apps by quarter 2018 {{!}} Statistic|website=Statista|language=en|access-date=2019-01-28}}

Amazon Appstore has also been adopted by several operating systems as a source of Android-compatible software, in lieu of Google Play. In June 2014, BlackBerry Limited announced that it would add Amazon Appstore to BlackBerry 10 (which is based on real-time operating system QNX) beginning with version 10.3 for use with its Android runtime.{{cite web |last=Segan |first=Sascha |date=January 31, 2013 |title=How BlackBerry 10 Runs 28,000 Android Apps Without a Back Button |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414928,00.asp |access-date=18 June 2014 |website=PC Magazine}}{{cite web |title=BlackBerry will bring thousands of apps from Amazon's store to its phones |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/18/5820472/blackberry-phones-getting-amazon-appstore-apps-in-bb10-3 |access-date=18 June 2014 |website=The Verge|date=18 June 2014 }}

In June 2021, Microsoft announced that Amazon Appstore would be offered via Microsoft Store on Windows 11, for use with Windows Subsystem for Android.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2021-06-24 |title=Microsoft is bringing Android apps to Windows 11 with Amazon's Appstore |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/24/22548428/microsoft-windows-11-android-apps-support-amazon-store |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} On March 5, 2024, Microsoft announced deprecation of WSA with support ending on March 5, 2025. As a result, support for the Amazon Appstore on Windows and apps installed from it would also end on March 5, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Hachman |first=Mark |date=2024-03-05 |title=Microsoft is killing Android apps on Windows 11 |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2256353/microsoft-is-killing-android-apps-on-windows-11.html |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=PCWorld |language=en}}

Some countries are able to shop for apps on their local Amazon website.{{Cite web |title=Amazon Appstore Compatible Devices and Supported Countries by Marketplace - Amazon Customer Service | website=Amazon |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GG6HESXQN45DZQ8N}} Countries with a local website that only offer a limited range of services, and countries without a local website can shop for apps on the US-based website Amazon.com

Shortly after the Amazon Appstore launch, the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) published an open letter expressing concerns that were primarily aimed at Amazon's distribution terms.{{cite web|url=http://igdaboard.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/important-advisory-about-amazon%E2%80%99s-appstore-distribution-terms-2/ |title=Important Advisory about Amazon's Appstore Distribution Terms |publisher=International Game Developers Association |access-date=2011-05-14|quote=We are not aware of any other retailer having a formal policy of paying a supplier just 20% of the supplier's minimum list price without the supplier's permission.(...)If you ever conduct even a temporary price promotion in another market, you must permanently lower your list price in Amazon's market| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110430031238/http://igdaboard.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/important-advisory-about-amazon%E2%80%99s-appstore-distribution-terms-2/| archive-date= 30 April 2011 | url-status= live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2011/apr/14/amazon-android-appstore-igda |title=IGDA warns Android game developers about Amazon's Appstore terms|publisher=guardian.co.uk |date=2011-04-14 |access-date=2011-05-14}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/igda-outlines-significant-concerns-over-amazon-appstore-terms |title=IGDA Outlines 'Significant Concerns' Over Amazon Appstore Terms|publisher=Gamasutra |date=2011-04-14 |access-date=2011-05-14| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110510075823/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34108/IGDA_Outlines_Significant_Concerns_Over_Amazon_Appstore_Terms.php| archive-date= 10 May 2011 | url-status= live}} The main concerns about the conditions were that Appstore terms force developers to permanently lower their Appstore prices if ever they do promotions on other stores, and that Amazon could choose to lower the price of an application while deciding to reduce the developer's share without having to ask permission. Following this address, Amazon clarified the Appstore developer agreement,{{cite web |url=http://www.amazonappstoredev.com/2011/04/clarification-about-amazon-appstore-developer-agreement.html |title=Clarification about Amazon Appstore Developer Agreement|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc. |date=2011-04-15 |access-date=2011-05-14| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110511085347/http://www.amazonappstoredev.com/2011/04/clarification-about-amazon-appstore-developer-agreement.html| archive-date= 11 May 2011 | url-status= live}} but this did not assuage the IGDA's concerns, which declared that "Amazon's terms represent a threat to game developers".{{cite web|url=http://igdaboard.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/amazon%E2%80%99s-clarification-fails-to-address-game-developer-concerns/ |title=Amazon's clarification fails to address game developer concerns |publisher=International Game Developers Association |date=2011-04-19 |access-date=2011-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511093033/http://igdaboard.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/amazon%E2%80%99s-clarification-fails-to-address-game-developer-concerns/ |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.canardpc.com/news-52508-tir_de_barrage_contre_amazon.html |title=Tir de barrage contre Amazon |publisher=Canard PC |date=2011-04-14 |access-date=2011-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518041449/http://www.canardpc.com/news-52508-tir_de_barrage_contre_amazon.html |archive-date=2011-05-18 |url-status=dead }}

In July 2011, the Swedish developer Bithack pulled its Apparatus application from the Appstore and published an open letter explaining that the store was a "disaster" for indie developers.{{cite web|url=http://bithack.se/news/apparatus-amazon-july-4-2011.html|title=Apparatus will be pulled from Amazon Appstore|quote=If you are a small indie development team, or possibly even alone, don't bother with Amazon Appstore. Create a great app, publish it on Android Market, and provide great customer support. You will never succeed on Amazon Appstore without a big wallet, or at least an established reputation so that Amazon puts value behind their promises.|publisher=bithack.se|date=2011-07-04|access-date=2011-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705190345/http://bithack.se/news/apparatus-amazon-july-4-2011.html|archive-date=2011-07-05|url-status=dead}} The main problems related to the very slow review process, the absence of any means to filter unsupported devices, and that Amazon changed the price of the application without consulting the developer,{{cite web |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2084090/game-developer-pulls-app-amazon-appstore |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709023853/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2084090/game-developer-pulls-app-amazon-appstore |url-status=unfit |archive-date=July 9, 2011 |title=Game developer pulls app from Amazon Appstore over problems |quote=The final problem was that Amazon changed the price without consulting the developer. The price was cut to $0.99, only a quarter of its original price, which, while perhaps good for players, is not good for the developer.|publisher=The Inquirer |date=2011-07-05|access-date=2011-07-15}} leading to the IGDA reiterating its warnings concerning Amazon's policy once again.{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/igda-still-unhappy-with-amazon-appstore-policies/|title=IGDA still unhappy with Amazon Appstore policies|publisher=Joystiq|date=2011-07-08|access-date=2011-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714112306/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/igda-still-unhappy-with-amazon-appstore-policies/|archive-date=2011-07-14|url-status=dead}}

{{See also|Apple Inc. litigation#Amazon "App Store"}}

{{See also|Apple Inc. litigation#Amazon "App Store"}}

Apple filed a lawsuit against Amazon for using a similar name to the Apple App Store.{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/03/22/apple.amazon.app.fast/index.html | title=Apple sues Amazon over 'app store' name | publisher=CNN Tech | date=March 22, 2011 | access-date=September 15, 2012 | author=Eaton, Kit}} Amazon claimed that the term was too generic to be trademarked, and asked the judge to dismiss the suit.{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/04/amazon-responds-to-apple-app-store-is-generic-toss-the-suit/ | title=Amazon responds to Apple: "app store" is generic, toss the suit | publisher=Ars Technica | date=April 26, 2011 | access-date=September 15, 2012 | author=Cheng, Jacqui}} Apple responded to Amazon's attempted dismissal of the lawsuit by claiming that Amazon was tarnishing the trademark by using the name.{{cite web | url=http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/06/10/apple.filing.says.amazon.drags.down.app.store.name/ | title=Apple claims Amazon Appstore 'tarnishes' App Store trademark | publisher=Electronista | date=June 10, 2011 | access-date=September 15, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101134122/http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/06/10/apple.filing.says.amazon.drags.down.app.store.name/ | archive-date=November 1, 2012 | url-status=dead }} A federal judge denied Apple's request for a preliminary injunction, disagreeing with Amazon's claim that the term is generic, and citing that Apple had not established "a likelihood of confusion" with Amazon's services to obtain an injunction.{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-amazon-ruling-idUSTRE76604S20110707 | title=Judge rejects Apple bid for injunction against Amazon | publisher=Reuters | date=July 6, 2011 | access-date=September 15, 2012 | author=Levine, Dan}} Apple changed its complaint after Amazon started advertising the Kindle Fire, now saying that Amazon is trying to confuse customers further by dropping the "for Android" part of "Amazon Appstore for Android." In the amended complaint, Apple wrote that "Amazon's use is also likely to lessen the goodwill associated with Apple's App Store service and Apple products designed to utilize Apple's App Store service by associating Apple's App Store service with the inferior qualities of Amazon's service."{{cite web | url=https://www.wired.com/business/2011/11/kindle-fire-app-store-suit/ | title=Kindle Fire Dragged Into Apple's 'App Store' Suit Against Amazon | publisher=Wired | work=Ars Technica | date=November 18, 2011 | access-date=September 15, 2012 | author=Cheng, Jacqui}}

In January 2013, Apple's claims were rejected by a US District judge, who argued that the company presented no evidence that Amazon had "[attempted] to mimic Apple's site or advertising", or communicated that its service "possesses the characteristics and qualities that the public has come to expect from the Apple APP STORE and/or Apple products."{{cite web|title=No app for that: Apple's false ad suit over Amazon Appstore thrown out|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/01/no-app-for-that-apples-false-ad-suit-over-amazon-appstore-thrown-out/|work=Ars Technica|date=2 January 2013 |access-date=4 September 2013}} In July 2013, Apple dropped the case.{{cite web|last=Bostic |first=Kevin |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/07/09/apple-drops-app-store-lawsuit-against-amazon-says-no-need-to-pursue-case |title=Apple drops 'App Store' lawsuit against Amazon, says no need to pursue case |publisher=Appleinsider.com |date=2013-07-09 |access-date=2014-01-02}}

• List of mobile app distribution platforms
• Google Play
• App Store (Apple)
• BlackBerry World

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b?node=2350149011 Official website] : Amazon.com: Apps & Games
• [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-mobile-apps-and-the-amazon-appstore-on-windows-f8d0abb5-44ad-47d8-b9fb-ad6b1459ff6c Install mobile apps and the Amazon Appstore on Windows] at support.microsoft.com
• {{official website|https://developer.amazon.com/}} : Amazon Developer Services

{{Amazon}}

{{Software digital distribution platforms|state=collapsed}}

Category:Amazon (company)

Category:Mobile software distribution platforms

Category:Online marketplaces of the United States