Palm launches software store for mobile users

Sunnyvale, December 17: Palm has opened its own version of an online app store, called ‘ software store’, which helps mobile users to download software directly from store to their handsets.

Palm’s app store includes more than 5000 applications and games such as Pac-Man, Tetris, and Fish Tycoon. The store has offered more than 1000 apps absolutely free and on the first download of the app, user will get 25 percent discount coupon. The users can first browse the catalog of applications and then can buy and download them directly to their devices. The users can download these apps on more than 25 Palm devices including the Centro and Treo Pro.

The service is available for both Windows Mobile and Palm OS devices. But Palm representative did not clarify that how many of them are available for windows mobile and how many for Palm OS devices.

It also includes a new icon, which can be downloaded to devices. By clicking on the icon user can later access directly to the store.

Palm’ store has teamed up with the PocketGear, which provides smartphone applications. Many developers including those of Scrabble, Facebook and the Encyclopedia Britannica have also contributed to the applications.

Palm’s name is now listed with the other phone makers, who have already launched their app stores and from these app stores users can buy and download apps directly on their devices. This functionality has made downloading easier than before, as previously the apps could be downloaded to computer first and from there to the device.

Apple has started this trend by launching its first iphone apps store whereas Research In Motion plans to open store in March. Recently it had recorded 300 million downloads from its app store.