Facebook is launching its own app download store soon. Today, the company announced its plans to offer the store, titled App Center, on its developer blog page. Facebook said the store will be available "in the coming weeks" to the general public. It will be available for Android and iOS mobile devices, along with the web for PC users. The app store can also be used for existing in-browser Facebook applications.
In advance of the App Center's launch, Facebook is asking potential app creators to make their own app detail page, similar to what Apple has for the iTunes App Store and what Google has for Google Play. The company states, "The page is required for being listed in the App Center, and it will also become the new destination when non-users search for your app on Facebook."
Once an app is released on App Center, developers and Facebook itself will be able to track how well the app is rated by its users. Facebook states, "Well-designed apps that people enjoy will be prominently displayed. Apps that receive poor user ratings or don’t meet the quality guidelines won't be listed."
Even though the App Center plan sounds like Facebook is competing with Apple and Google, it really isn't. The site states, " ... if a mobile app requires installation, they will be sent to download the app from the App Store or Google Play." That means Apple and Google will likely get their own cut of the revenues via a app that a user gets from Facebook's App Center.
With just over 900 million worldwide users, Facebook clearly sees App Center as yet another way to monetize all of their subscribers. App developers also have a new and massive audience from which to sell their creations.
Image via Facebook
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