T-Mobile to launch App Store for all of its phones this Fall
By Robert Nelson
If all goes according to plan, T-Mobile will launch an Apple-like App Store of its own beginning this fall. Their plans are to open up to developers and create one store that will be for all of their customers and all of their phones, which are said to include everything from their feature phones to their smartphones.
According to an official statement from T-Mobile, they are “working with the industry to foster an open wireless services platform which will provide developers with the tools and information they need to make new, innovative experiences available to T-Mobile’s more than 31.5M customers.”
Overall this sounds like a pretty daunting task, and according to one developer that was briefed on the upcoming plans, he spoke in reference to Apple stating that “the App store was a big deal, but that’s one phone. This is an entire carrier.”
T-Mobile certainly has their work cut out for them, this sounds impressive especially when you consider that T-Mobile currently has around 31.5 million customers and perhaps more important, this will include more than a handful of phones such as the Sidekick, all Windows Mobile based phones as well as any from the upcoming Android platform.
Perhaps the most important key to this puzzle is attracting the developers, which will come from making the application submission and approval process easy, but also taking care of them in terms of revenue sharing. So far the details about the submission and approval process are very light, as of now we have read just that the applications will be submitted online.
Equally important is just how attractive the store will be for developers in terms of revenue sharing. So far they have not made any mention of how or if they plan to handle free applications. As we know Apple currently allows free apps in the App Store, however the revenue sharing is a little different.
Apple makes it very simple, with an easy 70/30 split for all paid apps, while the free apps are just that, free. Although the details for the T-Mobile App Store are still light, it has been reported that they are planning to take a percentage of revenues according to how much bandwidth the applications uses. One developer was quoted as saying that the plan for revenue sharing was “very generous.”
Overall the payment based on bandwidth use sounds fair, but one cannot help to wonder what would happen with free music streaming apps such as Last.fm and Pandora, which are bound to use quite a bit more bandwidth than you basic text or image driven app.
Like I previously mentioned, this is expected to launch this Fall, so more, and hopefully firmer details are sure to come in the lead up to the official announcement.
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Stumble It!
August 10th, 2008
T-mobile is slipping from competing with other wireless carriers in the last few years. However, they have gathered strategies from top level management after the Alltel’s heavy hit with marketing ads. The company has silently weighed different options with other wireless providers to even stand a chance in the upcoming years. From secret sources within the industry, Tmobile will take over some wireless stores such as SUNCOM with is a subsidary of ATT and Cingular. SunCom has always had poor phone models but reasonable plans and pretty good coverage. The SunCom stores will now make way for Tmobile and offer a variety of phones and services to the company. The addition of the sidekick, better blackberry devices, and the idea of “from home” $10 add on package may as well be attractive too. From the growth of ATT, I couldnt see why they would not pickup SunCom and continue leading the wireless market with their highend products. ATT’s iphone seems threatened by Sprints Instinct and even other smartphones coming out. HP should look to become a wireless device manufacturer as they have successfully developed touchscreen technology to some of their products. ATT has also entered in the wireless broadband market in which no one seems to have a good grip on. They know phones but when it comes to internet they need to call their buddies to see how its done. I have had sprint wireless broadband because they had the cheapest unlimited plan and offered rebate on usb Aircard device. However, when i call they act like i have phone service and seem stuck to give support on wireless web. Verizon and ATT now have free broadband devices for your computer and even lowering prices to compete with sprint. I feel the next move is determined more by the computer guys rather than the cellular guys. Wireless will take over and may as well cut the cell phone market down to size. With “Voice over the Internet” (Voip), vonage, TWC, and other digital phone providers may find a way to “get in the game”. The development and growth of internet will dictate these moves. Wireless internet is on the rise and cellular phone manufacturers have a job in competing with phone features, designs, and even try to create the next smartphone that will cut into laptop and PDA sales. Tmobile is doing a late job, but with the right strategic management, they stand to build on their great market of Tweens and young consumers. Tmobile doesnt have enough money to expand everywhere as my neighborhood would love to spend 200 on a sidekick. We welcome their addition to our town on September 4-9 in the Suncom venture, but we’ll see if their brand has lasted long enough to change providers as well as coverage in my town of 200,000. Where have these guys been?