• May 12, 2009

Vodafone, the world's biggest telecom operator by sales, is the latest mobile company to announce plans to launch its own app storefront following the success of Apple's App Store. Vodafone's own app retailing effort, set to open later this year, will extend across its range of devices and downloads will be billed directly to subscriber accounts.

Like Apple, Vodafone will take a 30% cut of sales. In support of the initiative, the company will give partners and developers access (with customer consent) to network technologies such as location awareness to create more innovative mobile apps and services. Vodafone will also create a set of open standards to ensure applications work across its entire operation.

With 289 million subscribers worldwide, Vodafone operates in 27 countries, with affiliated networks in more than 40 international markets. It also holds a 45% stake in Verizon Wireless. Other companies rolling out mobile app stores including Research in Motion, Google, Palm, Microsoft and Nokia.

--Mark Walsh