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PocketGear Acquires Handango to Form World’s Largest Cross Platform Open App Store Juggernaut

By: , IntoMobile
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 5:58 AM

Just the other day, PocketGear announced they were going to go ahead and acquire Handango. Kind of big news, especially when you consider combining them both will form the world’s largest cross-platform, open app store and content marketplace. How large? Here are some of the key facts for you to chew on:

  • over 140,000 paid and free apps will be available
  • apps available for Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm, Linuk and Java-powered mobile devices.
  • Combined, PocketGear and Handango have generated over $400 million in mobile app revenues
  • the PocketGear Developer Program holds more than 32,000 developers and 40 storefront and distribution partners, including 4 of the top 5 handset manufacturers

Jud Bowman, President and CEO of PocketGear commented on the merger:

“Our vision is to facilitate an open app store ecosystem that supports every mobile device, every application, and every carrier network globally…By combining the two largest independent app store companies, we’re creating significantly more scale and value for all of the stakeholders in the open app store ecosystem.”

So what’s your take on this? Are you ‘pumped’ to jump in and buy apps at a cross-platform ‘superstore’, or would you much rather pop open the Apple App Store, Palm App Catalog, BlackBerry App World, Android App Market, etc, etc to get your apps? Cross-platform app browsing, or platform specific? Third-party goodness, or platform/manufacturer based love? Your app spend will tell the story in the end!

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About The Author

James Falconer

James was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada. Almost 15 years ago he started out in the 'real world' as a web and graphic designer. Through the years he has finely tuned his skills in SEO, internet marketing, conversion strategy, and project management. To date, he runs his own successful consulting business where he advises companies all over the globe. A co-founder of www.crackberry.com, and sole proprietor of www.mactropolis.com, James in recent years has become very active in the tech blogosphere. Online community building and strategy is fast becoming one of his passions. Watch for James' no frills attitude, unique perspective and to-the-point comments here on IntoMobile!

  • Kevin

    I (and others) have been buying apps from these two companies for about a decade now. (Apple is late to the party.)

    Their combining is fine as long as it doesn’t raise prices.