In order to activate the service, Omnia and I8910 HD users will need to upgrade their devices. Omnia customers can download and install the mobile client from the website www.samsungapps.com. I8910 HD customers can simply upgrade their software by selecting the Application Download icon on their phones.

The on-device client is available in English, French and Italian and supports credit card and phone billing through the mobile application store. Users who haven’t signed up as a member of the Application Store can purchase free applications and paid applications through the phone billing payment option.

Over 300 native applications meeting Samsung’s content guidelines will be available at launch, expected to grow to over 2,000 by the end of 2009. Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Handmark, TAITO, Paragon SW, Capcom, Com2us, Prompt, Pearson Longman, Bokan Tech and Diotek are among the providers of applications to the Samsung Application Store.

Earlier this year, Samsung launched its seller site (http://seller.samsungapps.com) for application developers and content providers enabling them to distribute and sell their applications directly to Samsung Smartphone users.

Samsung Application Store will be demonstrated at the IFA 2009, the IT and CE trade show, in Berlin from September 4th to 9th. Please visit to experience the newly launched Samsung Application Store at Hall 20.

Kanghyun Kwon, Vice President of Samsung’s Content Service Team, Media Solution Center, said: “We launched a Samsung Application Store beta service in January in the UK and have been collaborating with developers and content providers through Samsung Mobile Innovator, a developer program for Symbian, Windows Mobile, and Java from October, 2008. With the launch of Samsung’s Application Seller Site, we can complete the total eco-system for better, easier, and more exciting mobile experiences ranging from compelling mobile phones to content and applications. We are aiming to achieve a win-win business model for end-users, mobile operators, and industry influencers, such as developers and content providers.”

A member of the Seller Site will be able to purchase a sales contract online and check the certification status in real-time. The site provides essential statistics such as sales records, revenue, and popularity of the content to end-users. Billing and payment is also handled online. Samsung plans to launch and expand an official Application Store in Europe during 3Q of this year.

The online store will be officially launched at next month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona with an initial selection of 1,100 applications that Samsung’s UK-based customers will be able to load onto their devices. In its initial phase the store will support both Samsung S60 and Windows Mobile platforms, with a further upgraded planned for later in 2009. The application store is now able to be viewed here

Samsung has previously launched Samsung Mobile Innovator, a new program enabling mobile software developers to create applications for use across all Samsung S60 devices.

Samsung Mobile Innovator provides developers with the tools, technical content and support they require to create applications and services which are differentiated from their competitors and that work on the Samsung S60 platform.

Samsung Mobile Innovator is free to join, and basic (Hub) membership is open to everyone at all levels of interest in open mobile devices. In recognition of partner companies, there is also an invite-only Core membership level.

The key services that Samsung is making available to help developers collaborate, innovate and accelerate ideas for Samsung S60 devices are: 

• Lab.dev – a virtual device lab to provide access to current Samsung mobile devices for remote application development and testing and verify application functionality. Users also have the benefit of reducing development costs, while increasing productivity.
• Market.dev – business development support to give as much help as possible to accelerate all developer ideas and help registered members sell their applications and services on Samsung devices.
• Ask.dev – exclusive and confidential technical support to help reduce the time it takes to develop new ideas and bring current applications to Samsung devices. This dedicated online support is unlimited and free to core members.