Amazon has announced the impending closure of its Amazon Appstore for Android, set to take effect on August 20. This decision, communicated to developers, marks a significant shift in Amazon’s strategy as it pivots its focus towards enhancing the Appstore experience on its proprietary devices.
Transitioning Focus
In a statement to TechCrunch, Amazon clarified that the decision stems from a desire to concentrate efforts where the majority of its customers engage with the Appstore—specifically on Fire TVs and Fire Tablets. Consequently, while the Appstore will continue to operate on these devices, users relying on Android devices will need to transition to Google Play for their app needs.
As part of this transition, developers will still have the opportunity to release updates for existing apps; however, the submission of new apps has already ceased. Additionally, customers will no longer be able to make in-app purchases through the Amazon Appstore.
Amazon Coins Program
The Amazon Coins program, which allows users to purchase certain apps and make in-app purchases, will remain active until the shutdown date. Users holding Amazon Coins are encouraged to utilize them before August 20, after which any unused coins will be eligible for a refund, with further details to be provided by Amazon.
A Brief History
The Amazon Appstore made its debut in March 2011, launching with a modest selection of over 4,000 apps. Initially preloaded on Amazon Fire devices and select Android and BlackBerry smartphones, the Appstore faced legal hurdles, notably a trademark dispute with Apple, which Amazon ultimately overcame. However, competing against the giants of the industry—Google and Apple—has proven challenging. A recent report from Statista categorized Amazon’s Appstore as a “minor app store,” predominantly featuring free applications.
Statista’s findings highlight the vast disparity in content volume, with Google Play reigning as the largest app store globally, followed by Apple, which continues to generate higher revenues. In fact, global users spent approximately billion on apps during the second quarter of 2024 alone.
In recent years, Amazon has already made strategic cuts, shutting down its Appstore in China in 2023 and planning to withdraw from Windows by March 5. As the landscape of app distribution evolves, Amazon’s latest move underscores the ongoing challenges faced by alternative app stores in a market dominated by a few key players.
