T-Mobile USA Will Ditch The Traditional Deck To Mirror Apple’s App Store

Updated: T-Mobile USA Will Ditch The Traditional Deck To Mirror Apple’s App Store

By Tricia Duryee - Fri 08 Aug 2008 11:38 AM PST
mocoNews.net

Starting this fall, T-Mobile USA will take the extraordinary step of ditching its traditional deck on the phone and replacing it with a platform that’s open to almost any developer, multiple sources have told us. Think of *Apple’s* App store, but for the entire carrier’s handset line-up from smartphone to feature phone. As one developer, who was briefed on the matter, said: “The App store was a big deal, but that’s one phone. This is an entire carrier.” In other words, we are talking about T-Mobile’s 31.5 million subscribers today vs. the 10 million iPhones Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) expects to sell by year-end (granted, the iPhone users tend to be more engaged as early adopters). The impact of this move by T-Mobile could set off a wave of changes in the industry, as other carriers feel pressure to offer new applications on their networks. Clearly, for this to happen, T-Mobile will have to follow through on its promises to encourage developers to participate. We are waiting for a statement from T-Mobile and will update when we have it.

Here’s the details: Developers will submit their applications online; the revenue-share agreement will be based on how much the application uses the network; and the applications will be presented to the user in order of popularity, not according to T-Mobile’s preferences. It’s all pretty straightforward, but the more interesting aspect is that this will apply to all the carrier’s platforms from upcoming Android to Java to Sidekick and Windows Mobile. And, when it comes to revenues, it will be almost as easy as Apple’s 30-70 split. T-Mobile will take a percentage of revenues based on bandwidth, so if it’s a streaming video application, it will take more. Still, one developer called the baseline “very generous.” Right now, there’s not many details on the certification process, which will be the most important aspect. If developers have to jump through a lot of hoops, the system won’t be truly open. It’s also unclear how free apps will be handled (for instance, Apple doesn’t take a cut in that circumstance).

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SW

 

This description seems a little odd to me, since, if I understand it correctly, they are not really talking about replacing the phone OS (that's what I would call the "platform"), but allowing users to add and remove applications made for that platform.

So there will be an App Store will 4 or more floors. Stop at the one that matches your phone. ("3rd floor - Java, elevator going up!").

Nevertheless, I think it would be a big deal if they loosen the lock on applications and really encourage a software market for T-Mobile phones. It could be very appealing to users and give T-Mobile an edge - at least among phone geeks (you know who you are).

Also, didn't Verizon promise they were going to open their platform a while ago? I haven't heard much about that lately.

SW