Galaxy Store

The Galaxy Store has its origins in a mobile developer program launched in 2008, Samsung Mobile Innovator.{{Cite web|url=https://telecoms.com/2232/samsung-gets-touchy-feely-but-no-android/|title=Samsung gets touchy-feely, but no Android}} Samsung Mobile Applications, an app store powered by Handango launched at Mobile World Congress 2009 providing software for Windows Mobile, Symbian, and (from August) Java ME.{{Cite web |last=Stănescu |first=Alexandru |date=2009-02-04 |title=Samsung Launches Its Own App Store for WM and Symbian Devices |url=https://www.gsmdome.com/samsung-launches-its-own-app-store-for-wm-and-symbian-devices |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=GSMDome.com}} The services had been established in China and several European countries by the third quarter of 2009.{{cite web | url=http://www.gomonews.com/samsung-goes-the-symbian-route-with-mobile-application-warehouse/ | title=Samsung goes the Symbian route with mobile application warehouse|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308200315/http://www.gomonews.com/samsung-goes-the-symbian-route-with-mobile-application-warehouse/ |archive-date=8 March 2016 |url-status=usurped}}

On 14 September 2009, Samsung Apps launched initially in western Europe, providing software for the Samsung Omnia (i900) and Samsung Omnia HD (i8910) smartphones with more devices added later.{{Cite web |last=Geary |first=Leigh |date=2009-09-01 |title=Samsung Apps store to launch in two weeks |url=https://www.coolsmartphone.com/2009/09/01/samsung-apps-store-to-launch-in-two-weeks/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Coolsmartphone}} In 2010 it started offering apps for the Bada platform, which the Samsung Wave runs on.{{Cite web |title=Samsung Apps Celebrates 2nd Anniversary with New Version of Apps Store |url=https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-apps-celebrates-2nd-anniversary-with-new-version-of-apps-store |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=news.samsung.com}} There were 10 million app downloads by September 2010 in Europe, made up of Java, Windows Mobile and Bada apps.{{Cite web |last=O'Hear |first=Steve |date=2010-09-22 |title=Anything Apple can do... Samsung's European app store reaches 10m downloads in year one |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/09/22/anything-apple-can-do-samsungs-european-app-store-reaches-10m-downloads-in-year-one/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=TechCrunch}}

There was also a Samsung Apps TV for smart TVs, which had gotten 10 million downloads by October 2011. Samsung also held a developer challenge called Free the TV Challenge, which was won by WeDraw in 2010, an application that could draw on mobile and display on the TV screen.{{Cite web |date=2011-10-07 |title=Samsung TV apps downloads near 10 million {{!}} The Digital Home – CNET News |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20104789-17/samsung-tv-apps-downloads-near-10-million/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007213052/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20104789-17/samsung-tv-apps-downloads-near-10-million/ |archive-date=7 October 2011 }}

In March 2011 Samsung Apps was launched for the Galaxy line, running Android. Samsung Apps had 40,000 applications by its second anniversary in 2011. The store was also offered on Samsung Gear wearables and Samsung REX feature phones.

A feature called S Suggest (app and www.ssuggest.com) was launched in 2013 that would suggest apps from the store to users.{{cite web | url=https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2036557 | title=Samsung's S Suggest Helps You Find the Apps You Need | | InformIT }} This service was closed in 2014.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In July 2014, with the Galaxy line mostly consolidating Samsung's mobile offerings, Samsung Apps was rebranded to Galaxy Apps.{{Cite web |last=Rockman |first=Simon |title=Samsung rebrands store as Galaxy Apps, eyes up Google Play customers |url=https://www.theregister.com/2014/07/11/samsung_galaxy_apps_store_rebrand/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=The Register}}

In 2018, Samsung began an annual award for the best developers, called Best of Galaxy Store Awards. At the inaugural award at the Samsung Developer Ceremony, Booking.com was awarded 'Best App' and Wrist Camera the 'Best Watch App', amongst others.{{Cite web |title=Best of Galaxy Store Awards Winners |url=https://developer.samsung.com/galaxy-store/Best-of-Galaxy-Store-Previous-Winners.html |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Samsung Developers}}File:Galaxy_store_logo.pngIn early 2019, soon after the introduction of One UI, Galaxy Apps was rebranded to Galaxy Store.{{Cite web |last1=SamMobile |last2=Farooqui |first2=Adnan |date=2019-02-20 |title=Galaxy Apps gets rebranded to Galaxy Store with a new One UI design |url=https://www.sammobile.com/2019/02/20/galaxy-apps-rebranded-galaxy-store-one-ui |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=SamMobile}} The store was redesigned in October 2020 with an increased focus on games.

The Galaxy Store features reward points given to users who purchase games.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-30 |title=Samsung redesigns its Galaxy Store to focus on games |url=https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-store-redesign-games-165511215.html |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Engadget}}

The awards of the latest edition of 2022 were given to:{{Cite web |last1=SamMobile |last2=Naresh |first2=Sagar |date=2022-12-08 |title=Samsung announces winners of fifth annual Best of Galaxy Store Awards |url=https://www.sammobile.com/news/fifth-annual-samsung-best-of-galaxy-store-awards-winners/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=SamMobile}}

• Best Theme Collection: Pengtai Interactive Advertising Co.
• Best Wallpaper Collection: Bergen
• Best Icon Pack Collection: Cogul Planet
• Best Music App: Sirius XM Streaming by Sirius XM Radio Inc.
• Best Entertainment App: Vudu by Fandango Media
• Best Podcast: SOLAR by CurtCo Media
• Game of the Year: Catalyst Black by Super Evil Megacorp

The following is a list of apps and utilities provided by Samsung itself on the Galaxy Store. (as of September 2023)

Some third-party apps are also available on the Galaxy Store, despite Galaxy devices running on the Google Mobile Services platform which features the Play Store. These apps include the likes of Firefox, Microsoft 365, Wikipedia, and Clip Studio Paint. Some Android games have been exclusive on the Galaxy Store, such as Fortnite for users in the US.{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Brandon |date=2020-10-30 |title=Samsung Galaxy Store gets a big redesign with an emphasis on games |url=https://www.xda-developers.com/samsung-galaxy-store-gets-a-big-redesign-with-an-emphasis-on-games/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=XDA Developers}}

• List of Android app stores
• App store
• List of mobile app distribution platforms
• Google Play Store
• App Store
• Ovi Store
• BlackBerry World

{{Reflist}}

{{Samsung Electronics}}

{{Software digital distribution platforms}}

Category:Mobile software distribution platforms

Category:Android (operating system) software

Category:Bada software

Category:2009 software