Facebook to Launch its Very Own App Center
Facebook announced its plans this week to launch its very own application center.
The app center will be HTML 5-based and will give Facebook users access to iOS, Android, web, mobile web, and desktop applications.
Facebook also made it a point to say that it was not planning on directly competing with Apple or Google, but rather launching their own app center as a compliment to the Google Play and iTunes Store.
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In fact, people using the Facebook app center on an Android device will find that when they are looking for a game compatible with Facebook such as Words with Friends, they will be led to the Google Play store to download it, and the same goes for those using iOS devices.
"In the coming weeks, people will be able to access the App Center on the web and in the iOS and Android Facebook apps. All canvas, mobile and web apps that follow the guidelines can be listed," said Software Engineer Aaron Brady in a Facebook Developer's blog post. "All developers should start preparing today to make sure their app is included for the launch."
The exclusive Facebook applications will be "personalized," according to VentureBeat.
The company will release both free and paid apps, and purchases will generate revenue for developers. This will create a place for them to earn money.
Facebook will also allow customers to provide them with feedback on the apps by giving them a star-rating metric system to use. The system will also be utilized to collect data on what users visit, engage, and what apps they stay in most frequently.
The scores based on these statistics will help to determine the application's quality, and what app developers can use to improve their product.
