There's An App for That?

App stores are popping up all over the place. It all started with Apple's iPhone app store, then Android Market Place, Chrome App Store, Zune Market Place, and now the Mac App Store. Let's not forget that also languishing in obscurity is the over-looked Blackberry App World. So what's all the fuss? Why are companies tripping over themselves to offer software in this way? Well, the answer is that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Apple released the iPhone and along with it the iPhone App Store. Users flocked there and ponied up their dollars. The best part for Apple was that it splits revenue with the app developer. Apple takes thirty percent and seventy percent goes to the developer. Of course Apple has to provide the infrastructure for delivery but they are off the hook in regards to the typical responsibilities software companies have had to grabble with. They didn't need to hire developers, project managers, tech support personnel, a marketing team, or a sales force. Practically all of this falls onto the shoulders of the app developer. They do the development and maintain the software. A sweet deal for Apple. So after seeing Apple's success with this business model other companies felt compelled to offer similar services. They didn't want to miss out on this modern day gold rush. Seeing the success of this business model for mobile devices companies expanded and provided similar offerings for computer systems.  So what are all of these app stores? Traditionally a company committed resources to developing applications. After a long arduous process of writing the software code and testing it, the software was then pressed to a CD or DVD, placed in a box, shrink wrapped, and then sent off to retailers. App stores changes this in that it is individual developers who develop the application. They in turn upload their application to the appropriate app store which supports the particular device for which they have developed their application i.e. Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone 7, Chrome OS, etc.  One upside of this process is that it has created quite a cottage industry for developers. They can spend their time developing for devices that they are comfortable with and work on software in which they are interested. They don't need large development teams. A developer with an idea can write a program in their spare time at home and have it in an app store with very few resources or hurdles.  It's a win-win for all parties to include the consumer. Never before have there been so many options for obtaining software. Apps run the gambit from silly novelty applications to full-fledged productivity solutions. Each app store has differences in how they are managed. Apple maintains tight control over the applications that it allows in its app store, whereas, the Android Market Place is an open eco-system and anyone can add their applications so long as it meets some basic guidelines established by Google. So with all of this competition we consumers can leverage all of our devices to their maximum potential by customizing them to our liking. We have access to applications for just about every need or want and for practically any device. Be it entertainment, productivity, communication, or simply for being silly... Yes, there's an app for that.

Check out the app store for your device:

iPhone
http://www.apple.com/iphone/apps-for-iphone/

Android
http://www.android.com/market/

Windows Phone 7
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/apps/default.aspx

Mac OS
http://www.apple.com/mac/app-store/

Google Chrome
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/