LG 'snapps' into action with 'App Store' live beta

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 20 July 2009 07:12

Opinion and Analysis

LG’s Dr. Ahn added: “It’s important to understand that unlike other mobile phone manufacturers, LG’s Application Store is not intended to be a new or separate business model.

“It’s an added-value service that comes with LG’s high-end phone and smartphone ownership. And unlike other mobile phone online stores, LG’s intention is not to censor the type of applications that are available to our customers but only to ensure that they meet the high standards for quality and compatibility.”

Although LG’s Application Store is totally new, it turns out that LG has been working with software developers since October last year on what we’re told is an associated project, the LG Mobile Developer Network.

The site is “specifically designed for third party software developers of LG mobile phones”, and LG says that since the site opened in October, it has been “significantly renovated with enhanced contents and functionality.”

In addition, LG says: “The number of applications is expected to expand even further over time as developers will be given added incentives. At the website, developers can develop and share widgets and test their applications through Virtual Developer Lab (VDL) and Over-The-Air (OTA) downloads.

“Currently the website supports Java SDK and for widgets, it will support VDL, OTA downloads by the end of the year for compatible devices on the global market.”

LG does talk about smart and feature phones getting access to the store, but notes they’ll need to have apps downloaded to a PC first and presumably then transferred over to the phone.

However there is one phone that will have direct, on-phone access to the store, and that’s the new LG-GM730 smartphone, which it launched last month at Singapore’s CommunicAsia and which launches in Australian retail stores over the next couple of weeks in “late July”. 

LG-GM730 users will be able to “flick horizontally on the ‘Quick Key Box’ at the bottom of the home screen and tapping the App icon”, and promises that its future feature phones “will be able to access the LG Application Store in the future.”

Finally, the LG Application Store will remain in beta test stage “until further notice”, so if you’re already coding apps for iPhones, Nokias, WinMo devices and more, LG no doubt hopes to tempt you into writing software for its platform, too.

The only large gap left in LG’s app store offering is the massive lead Apple has created, but with LG and its Korean brother Samsung having both shown great tenacity in moving from the low end to the high end over the past decade and a half, and both gaining much market share... when it comes to catching up and potentially even overtaking one day... things are lookin’ good!