Samsung App Store Opens in Europe

We’ve head about Samsung opening up its own App Store. Well, come September 14, it will be launched in Europe. The App Store will hold applications and content for Samsung’s Omnia smartphones. Countries like the U.K., France, and Italy will have first dibs on Samsung’s App Store. Citizens from other countries though need not worry as 30 more stores will be opened in 30 different countries in the coming months.

Users will be able to pick from approximately 300 applications, including games and e-books. The number of applications will increase to about 2,000 by end of the year.

To access the site, Omnia and Omnia HD owners will have to upgrade their phones with the download icon, which will be available on the store’s site. The store will also be available on the upcoming Omnia II, Omnia Pro, Omnia Lite and some new devices and payment will be through credit card or mobile phone subscription.

Opening its very own App Store will give Samsung an advantage as it could entice customers to get an Omnia smartphone with the promise that applications for it are readily available. Their next challenge then is to attract more developers into making more applications.

For cheapskates like me, Samsung did not mention any applications that are free (similar to Apple App Store’s collection of free apps). So I guess we’ll have to wait and see when Samsung’s App Store open on September 14.