Palm have announced that, starting today, developers looking to charge for their webOS applications will be able to submit them for approval and inclusion into the App Catalog. Until now, titles available to download to the Palm Pre have been free of charge; Palm are now throwing open the doors to apps that actually cost something, with the first developers selected being included in the September e-commerce beta program.
That program will kick off midway through the month, and the selected titles – which will include both free and paid apps – will be among the next wave of software released into the Catalog. Revenues will be split 70/30 (developer/Palm) after relevant sales taxes, with only one-time charges allowed, while customers will be able to use Visa and MasterCard credit cards to pay for their apps. Conspicuous by its absence is any sort of cut for the carriers.
The full developer program is expected to launch in the US this fall. More details regarding paid-apps policies at http://pdnblog.palm.com/
Press Release:
Palm to Open E-commerce Beta Program for Palm App Catalog
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2009 — Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) announced that starting today developers who wish to charge for their Palm webOS™ applications can begin submitting them for consideration in the Palm® App Catalog e-commerce beta program, which will begin in mid-September. Developers selected to participate in the beta program will have the opportunity to have their applications, both free and paid, featured in the Palm App Catalog ahead of the next wave, and to be among the first to be paid for purchases of their Palm webOS applications.
As part of the App Catalog e-commerce beta program for the Palm Pre™ phone and future Palm webOS devices, developers will receive a 70/30 split (developer/Palm) of gross revenues generated through application sales (less applicable sales taxes). Customers will be able to easily purchase applications using Visa and MasterCard credit cards. Further details about the program and distribution model will be provided in the coming weeks. Palm expects to launch the full developer program in the United States this fall.
“We’re rolling out the submission process and e-commerce capabilities of the Palm App Catalog with careful consideration for both the developer and customer,” said Katie Mitic, senior vice president, Product Marketing, Palm, Inc. “We want every part of the Palm webOS experience to be the best, and a strong e-commerce model is key to a thriving developer community, great apps and an excellent customer experience.”
More information about how developers can submit an application for the beta
e-commerce program, as well as criteria for application acceptance, is available on the Palm Developer Network blog at http://pdnblog.palm.com/.About Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc. is a leading mobile products company, creating instinctive yet powerful mobile products that enable people to better manage their lives on the go. The company’s products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm Pre™, Palm® Treo™ and Palm Centro™ phones, as well as software, services and accessories.
Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).
More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com.
