New app store allows customers to easily access and enjoy select applications across their Samsung Galaxy devices
Samsung has revamped and rebranded its app store, in an apparent bid to cut into Google’s revenue from its Play store for apps running on Android devices.
The new Samsung Galaxy Apps store has “hundreds of apps” exclusively available to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices, the company said Friday.
“At Samsung, we continuously strive to create value for our customers by providing differentiated solutions and services coupled with innovative devices,†said WonPyo Hong, President of the Media Solution Center at Samsung Electronics.
“Samsung GALAXY Apps is an extension of that promise, as it offers our customers exclusive apps to enrich their experience.â€Â
The redesigned app store will offer higher customization of mobile devices and a variety of promotions and discounts to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices, it added. The earlier store was called Samsung Apps.
The revamped app store has a redesigned user interface to display apps in three categories: Best Picks, Top, and For Galaxy. Best Picks lets users find recommended apps and promotions, while Top displays the most popular apps which can be viewed by their popularity, date, and price.
The For Galaxy category is in turn divided into four sections. A Galaxy Gifts section lists premium apps exclusively for Galaxy devices, while a Galaxy Essentials section features “must-have apps” for Galaxy devices, the company said.
The third For Galaxy section, called Apps for Professionals, is described as “the home of business focused apps and other services that fully utilize the features of Galaxy devices.” A Galaxy Specials section will let users download apps created by using Samsung SDKs (software development kits), the company said.
But the South Korean company has also tried to keep some distance from Google, by using the Tizen operating system in devices such as the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo smartwatches and the Samsung Z smartphone, with a TV running the OS planned for next year.
It is not clear at this point whether Samsung aims to promote a Galaxy ecosystem including apps separately from one around the Tizen products.
Samsung Galaxy Apps will eventually be available to over 130 million users in 161 countries.
You can visit the new revamped store here.[signoff predefined=”Enjoy this?” icon=”icon-users”][/signoff]
