Palm launches new app store for webOS
Created by hasan.kamal under Palm Pre
Palm’s Pre has been touted as one of a series of rival phones that has the potential to remove the iPhone from the top spot in smart phones. However, the Pre has had a painful birth into the smart phone era with lawsuits from Apple along with launch issues ranging from availability to pricing problems. Nonetheless, this has not stopped the Pre team from steaming ahead at full speed to help with the development of apps for its webOS.
Initially, Palm felt to ensure build quality of its apps, it would be handing over its SDK, Mojo, to a few select developers that Palm selected. A smart move considering that a majority of the quality developers are working for the iPhone platform or moving towards Google’s Android platform. By releasing to selected developers, Palm provides them with a strong first mover advantage which may help in retaining key long-term developers that would eventually help Palm establish a credible developer base.
Looking over at the website, http://www.palm.com/us/products/software/mobile-applications.html, the overall feel is similar to the Android Marketplace along with clear well-defined categories. Screenshots are available for each of the apps listed. Interestingly enough, most apps have been produced by strong content or service providers which are a good way of ensuring the build quality of the apps. An example being the Fandango app which mirrors the real life service for movie fanatics; such apps help build the base for other apps to be developed with equal quality since a high standard has been established.
The overall range of apps is impressive while the depth of apps is lacking when compared to the number of apps developed for the iPhone and Android-compatible phones. However, these initial offering shows how Palm plans on maintaining a strong quality focus on its apps and enticing customers with apps developed professionally. It also signals other professional developers of the importance that Palm is giving to its initial developers.
Palm is holding a conference in December 2009 to help boost the app development process and lure developers to its platform. Previously, Palm thought SDK release exclusivity to certain developers and the concept of being a serious competitor to the iPhone would be enough to generate a large developer base. Unfortunately, the impetus that Google’s Android platform has been garnering is now growing evermore popular and receiving significant financial and marketing support. Palm was left out in the dry in terms of the anticipated enthusiasm and consumer attention it needed.
Regardless, the quality of the apps and the variety of apps that are currently available to Pre customers is impressive considering that a very small base of developers have started work on webOS. With the SDK now available to all developers and a well-documented website, it seems that the upcoming conference should lure some serious developers. At this point, Palm should jump on the interested parties and retain them at all costs. These developers will be the ones that will change the market perception of the Pre. Adding into this the ability to port apps easily, these developers will be competing against iPhone and Android developers. They will face a monumental task of dealing with ported apps and new apps that are being developed for the Pre; Palm must retain these developers actively.
Apple recently changed its revenue model allowing apps to be categorized as free with additional content being available at a price. Android is receiving significant support from Google as numerous specialist technology firms have been snapped that will most likely work towards building a cohesive and unified Marketplace web front. Palm needs to seriously consider any form of retention they can afford to keep a strong developer base growing to combat these two platforms.
Do you think the app quality is better on the apps offered by Palm? How does the store for Palm’s apps feel – similar, unfamiliar, difficult to navigate, etc? How do you think Palm will retain its developers – financially or technically?