Apple’s App Store and the Android Market get a lot of attention in the mobile app space but don’t count out the independent players like GetJar. The multi-platform app store has just secured $11 million in Series B funding, which should give it the resources for continued growth.
The company offers free apps for multiple platforms including Windows Mobile, Symbian and a variety of feature phones. The latest round of funding comes from the well-known venture funding company Accel Partners.
“It’s hard to believe that six guys that set-up the first beta testing community for mobile app developers would eventually transform into the world’s 2nd largest app store with over 1 billion downloads to date,” said Ilja Laurs, founder and CEO of GetJar, in a prepared statement. “We look forward to our continued partnership with Accel Partners and this new funding will be instrumental in taking GetJar to the next level in our business strategy for aggressive global expansion and product development.”
The company has rode the wave of app momentum and it now has seen more than a billion downloads. Those types of figures put it right behind the App Store in terms of downloads but the Android Market is quickly picking up steam.
Every major smartphone player has its own over-the-air way to browse, download and install apps on its handsets. GetJar says the overall app market will be large enough to support multiple providers.
The company has told me it sees these individual app stores as boutique delis that will serve its customers well. GetJar is aiming to be a giant supermarket that will serve the masses though, offering convenience and support for devices that its competitors can’t.
The strategy appears to be working, as the company has tripled its amount of employees, quadrupled the number of downloads per month and has inked deals with Sprint and other carriers in the last 12 months.
[Via GetJar]