Amazon Android Appstore starts platform dominance with exclusivity

Amazon is continuing its tech ninja moves into the Android ecosystem with the PopCap deal for games for the Appstore. PopCap is one of the largest mobile game makers, and Amazon has signed them up to peddle its games in the Amazon Android Appstore. The deal gives the Amazon store an exclusive period, keeping them out of the official Android Market run by Google. This is likely just the first of many such deals, and gives Amazon a real foothold in the Android app business.

The PopCap deal only gives the Amazon Appstore a two-week period of exclusivity, but I expect that will change with other deals in the future. What Amazon brings to developers is major exposure to buyers, something that is so hard for them to get in the Android Market. I suspect companies like PopCap will sell more games in that two week period than they could in the 'real' market.

Amazon has focused its attention on quality apps for its Appstore, and Android device owners appreciate that. It is becoming more common for shoppers to hit up the Amazon store first, as it's easier to find good apps there than in the mess that is the Android Market. We'll start seeing more developers willing to give Amazon an exclusive period for their apps in exchange for exposure, and these periods will be longer than two weeks. The Amazon Appstore will become the preferred place to shop for apps with both buyers and developers.

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