China Telecom Mobile App Store to Beta Soon
Sina Tech, 8/28/09
A high-level source at China Telecom (NYSE: CHA; 0728.HK) has divulged that work on the operator's mobile app store was "basically finished in late July," and a beta version will launch in September at the earliest.
At that time, all 133- and 153-prefix subscribers will receive the same services as 189-prefix subscribers, including mobile mailboxes and other services. Reportedly, the app store already contains several hundred products; during the initial stage of its growth, the majority of applications will be available for free download and paid use; developers will be encouraged to provide applications for a free trial period before charging for them. The app store will initially be free for use to subscribers, and will eventually be charged per session, per month, or per item purchased.
The app store will reportedly offer a cross-platform environment supporting Windows Mobile, Symbian, BREW, Java and other mobile platforms. In its initial state there will be mobile and PC clients for the store, later expanding to cover data cards, IPTV, and other terminals. Developers will be free to set prices for their products within a range defined by China Telecom, subject to approval by China Telecom. Details on China Telecom's percentage of sales revenues have yet to be released, but the source predicted that the operator's commission would not differ greatly from that taken by other operators' mobile app stores.
Keywords: tariffs mobile application China Telecom wireless app store 0728.HK CHA
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