Mobile giants gearing up to launch India-specific app stores

Seeing the growing number of mobile phone users in India, the leading mobile phone manufacturers, such as Nokia, Apple, and Research in Motion (RIM) are anticipating great revenue opportunity in the mobile phone application market of India.

These companies feel that the Indian mobile phone application market has great potential with revenue opportunity next to US and Europe. These mobile phone giants are now gearing to launch the application stores specifically for Indian mobile phone users. These companies have already get application developers started for developing applications for their India specific application stores. The localized versions of the application stores will have applications customised for the Indian market.

Nokia, which has recently launched its global app store – ‘Ovi Store,’ is now planning to launch its Indian version by December. According to Nokia India director (marketing) Vineet Taneja, the Indian version of Ovi Store will offer applications specifically designed for Indian customers. It will offer applications in areas including location-based services (both GPS and cellphone tower based), music, entertainment, business to even utilities.

Research in Motion (RIM), which launched its ‘BlackBerry App World’ earlier this year, is also looking to launch its “App World” in India. RIM is planning to launch the Indian version of ‘BlackBerry App World,’ which is currently available only in North America and Europe. RIM has confirmed that it is currently working to launch its app store in India. According to RIM, the Indian version of “BlackBerry App World” will have applications of Indian flavour. The localized app store will offer apps focused on connectivity, travel, instant messaging, navigation, and some industry-specific applications.  

Meanwhile, the reports are around that Apple is also looking to cash the mobile phone application market of India. According to reports, Apple is also preparing to roll out the Indian version of its App Store, which will offer India-specific applications.