Amazon’s Android Appstore launched last week with an innovative approach to selling apps. Amazon Test Drive allows potential customers to try out the full-version of an app free for 30 minutes on a virtual version of an Android phone. Currently, Test Drive is limited to U.S. customers — however, the Amazon Appstore is not yet available to AT&T subscribers. Test Drive is up and running for 20 different apps including IMDB, Kindle and The Huffington Post. Amazon plans to roll it out for many more apps in the future. Amazon Test Drive is available using personal computers but not using Android phones themselves.
Be interesting to see Apple have to license this concept from Amazon -- do a little hoisting of them on their own petard.
If Amazon is seriously looking at getting into the tablet and phone production space, they'd best be building a defensive patent hedge, in any case, even if this isn't a candidate.
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Amazon Lets Customers Take Android Apps Out for a Spin
Posted by: Rob Spiegel March 28, 2011 01:14 PMAmazon’s Android Appstore launched last week with an innovative approach to selling apps. Amazon Test Drive allows potential customers to try out the full-version of an app free for 30 minutes on a virtual version of an Android phone. Currently, Test Drive is limited to U.S. customers — however, the Amazon Appstore is not yet available to AT&T subscribers. Test Drive is up and running for 20 different apps including IMDB, Kindle and The Huffington Post. Amazon plans to roll it out for many more apps in the future. Amazon Test Drive is available using personal computers but not using Android phones themselves.
If Amazon is seriously looking at getting into the tablet and phone production space, they'd best be building a defensive patent hedge, in any case, even if this isn't a candidate.