While Android is growing rapidly in popularity, its App Market is notoriously messy with plenty of junky applications. Now Amazon is looking to take advantage of this by offering a its own version of an app store that, instead of using the same open-to-all approach as Google, follows Apple's curating model more closely. They've launched the developer-side of the store today, and began inviting programmers to submit Android apps for the commercial debut later this year.

Amazon will take it upon itself to check apps before they're deployed to its store, making sure they work as advertised and won't harm your device. But unlike Apple's often criticized screening policies the giant retailer says it's going to take a more liberal stance as far as what's allowed on the store - basically just blocking porn and anything related to illegal activities. Then it'll leverage its signature recommendation and merchandising solutions to boost app discovery.


Millions of people already trust and use Amazon's retailing system so its app store has the potential to become much more of a force to be reckoned than smaller alternatives and even Google's official marketplace (although it will be U.S. only at launch). Amazon's app store will cover apps and games for Android devices running version 1.6 or higher.

There's a planned annual fee of $99 for devs, but this will be waived for early adopters. Perhaps the biggest change compared to similar stores is that Amazon - not the developer - will set actual application pricing. Developers receive a royalty equal to the greater of either 70% of the purchase price or 20% of the list price (which is a price you set that you'd normally sell it at) in case Amazon steeply discounts your app or offers it for free. You can read more about it here.