Amazon Appstore to launch in UK

Web retailer Amazon has confirmed plans to launch a UK version of its Appstore for Android apps in the UK this summer.

The move comes a year after its launch in the US.

The company is already in talks with developers and is taking submissions from them in preparation of the unveiling of its international store which will open in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain in the next couple of months with more countries in the pipeline.

"We’re excited to open the door to even more opportunity by expanding app sales outside the US," said Jim Adkins, vice president of the Amazon Appstore.

"We see tremendous potential for current developers in our distribution program to grow with the international expansion. We also encourage new developers to join and participate in the platform’s growth.”

Amazon said that its US version had “tens of thousands” of apps and games making it a rival not only to Google Play buy also Apple with its App Store. It sells these apps to users of Android-based smart phones and tablets and includes apps for its Kindle Fire tablet, which has yet to launch in the UK.

While the opening of the Appstore could mean the launch of the Kindle Fire is not too far away, Amazon has not announced any details on whether or not it will sell the Android-based tablet outside of the US.

The Kindle Fire runs a forked version of the Android OS and when launched in the US, the Kindle Fire was more successful than other Android-based tablets but still in the shadows of the overwhelmingly successful Apple iPad.

The company also revealed changes to its developer distribution agreement with the alignment of in-app purchase revenue division to its 70-30 split for general app sales. Developers can now also fine-tune timings of app releases.