Samsung’s new app store ready for prime time on September 14

Announced today, Samsung plans to make its new and “unique” app store available for all European users starting on September 14, 2009. Samsung Omnia and the I8910 HD users living in Britain, France, and Italy will initially have access to the app store. The 30 other European countries will receive the app store update shortly after. In addition, the Omnia II and the OmniaLITE smartphones will have app store access in due time.

Like most other app stores, it will be filled with pointless apps ranging from games, references, and quirky material, to some useful apps such as e-books and health related ones. So far, Samsung has been able to create around 300 apps available for the initial release of the app store, but they have plans for 1700 additional apps by year’s end. To achieve this goal, Samsung has already signed on with prominent companies such as Gameloft, Handmark, TAITO, Electronic Arts, Capcom, Paragon SW, Prompt, Com2us, Pearson Longman, Bokan Tech and Diotek. Of course, they are still looking for developers to further facilitate app growth.

The app store will begin as an on-device software, but Samsung plans to expand the app store to PCs, so users can download apps and sync via PC. Until then, apps will most likely be purchased and installed through the use of 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. Furthermore, in order to install the app store on the Samsung smartphone, users will have to download and install the software from the SamsungApps website or by selecting the Application Download icon on the phone.

While I don’t expect the Samsung app store entice users into purchasing a Samsung Omnia, simply because too many other phones have app stores already, it will definitely make the phone more attractive to possible buyers; assuming the apps are actually somewhat decent, that is. No word on an American or Asian release at this time.

Via [NewsWire]