Is Google Chrome’s Web Store Mirroring Apple’s App Store?
Google Chrome is building up anticipation from users and developers for their upcoming Chrome Operating System release which is set to include the Chrome Web app store. As part of the new web store, users will have the capability to find and buy browser extensions and web applications based on ratings and reviews similar to Apple’s iPhone App Store.
Why is a web store needed for Chrome extensions and web apps?
For users, an ever increasing amount of noise clutters the internet, preventing them from finding applications that best suit their needs. For developers, there is no simple way to charge for their extensions or web apps, which provides a scalable distribution channel and a widely used commerce platform like the Apple App Store. Google’s new Chrome Web Store will be released to solve these problems. Google is following the lead of Firefox, which announced they would be supporting the sale of browser extensions at Add-Con 2009.
How will browser add-on developers respond to the new Chrome Web Store?
Google began with their design principles for extensions and discussed how they may elaborate on them. Four key components that went into the creation of each extension include:
- webby: allow developers to easily create
- streamlined: avoid distracting users from the web
- fast and robust: automatically test for bugs and performance levels
- secure: sandbox environment so extensions must be granted by the user
With all of Apple’s mobile application success can you really blame Google for creating this web store for Chrome?
This is an attempt for Google to increase traffic and grow their company as a web application distributor. Apple witnessed a growing amount of success with their app store. Right now the iPhone and iPad lead consumer app usage with 91% of the market, Android with 7% and Blackberry and Java with 1%. Consumer apps have grown from 65,000 in July of 2009 and 100,000 in November of 2009. The iPhone moved over 2 billion apps with an average of 6.7 million a day. With such a wide variety of applications only 5% of apps have over 100,000 users. With these numbers, it is a no-brainer for Google to start developing their web store.
How will the Chrome Web Store benefit app developers?
There is consistent growth in the development of applications since 2008. In the Chrome Web Store, apps will be provided to users for free or for a fee. Currently, in Apple’s AppStore, 75%-85% of the apps downloaded are free while the remaining are paid applications. The price of a Chrome Web App is predicted to range from $2.99 to $3.99. 70% of the revenue generated from the Google Web store will go to developers and 30% to Google. Apps that run on Flash, HTML5, or any other type of format will be offered if compatible with the Chrome Browser. “The Chrome Web Store appears to be less about control and more about connection,” comments Clint Boulton of EWeek.com
Creating the Google Web Store is a good way to sort out apps as it provides a catalyst for users to find the apps that they are looking for. W3i helps users discover apps when they don’t know what they are looking for—during the installation.
About W3i:
W3i increases revenue, distribution, and engagement for consumer desktop applications, browser add-ons and mobile applications enabling publishers to provide quality consumer apps for free by recommending relevant applications giving advertisers a mass, performance driven distribution channel. The W3i Application Network uses InstallIQ, W3i’s intelligent installation technology, for recommending PC and mobile applications that users value. InstallIQ was tested and optimized on over 350 million app installs-over 100 million app installs in 2009. W3i will prove to be a valued partner in growing your application business. To learn more, visit the W3i Application Network.
Matt Machacek, Marketing Communications, W3i, LLC
Matt is a senior in the Marketing program at SCSU. Matt is applying his learnings to W3i’s social media outreach.
Find Out More on How W3i Can Grow Your Consumer App Business
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