Facebook announce the launch of their much-anticipated app center.
Facebook’s app center is the latest in a string of high-profile developments for the website, and the company revealed last night that the feature is finally here. With the release, Facebook offers developers the opportunity to promote and sell free and paid apps through the Facebook website and mobile platform, providing a direct comparison with Google and Apple while visits to these stores as users download mobile apps.
In May, Facebook engineer Aaron Brady explained the purpose of the app center in a blog post: “The App Center is designed to grow mobile apps that use Facebook – whether they’re on iOS, Android or the mobile web.”
On its release, the app center hosts over 600 apps, including big names like Spotify, Pinterest, Draw Something and Stitcher Radio. Facebook users can download the apps through the website, and send them directly to their mobile devices.
All Facebook app center apps are compatible with iOS, Android, and Facebook itself. Like the Apple and Google Play stores, some apps are free, while others require a payment. All the apps available have some level of Facebook integration. Brady revealed in his blog post that the main aim of Facebook’s app store is to promote and grow apps that are connected to the social media giant.
Developers have already made use of Facebook’s browser app service, and the company’s director of developer products, Doug Purdy, said that the center will provide developers with a platform to access a huge audience. What sets Facebook’s app center apart from similar services is the social aspect: Facebook recommends apps to users based on what friends have downloaded and recommended themselves.
Facebook made the official announcement with a press release on 7th June, saying:
The App Center is launching tonight with more than 600 social apps, including Nike+ GPS, Ubisoft Ghost Recon Commander, Stitcher Radio, Draw Something, and Pinterest.
Each person will have a personalized experience in the App Center, with recommendations based on the apps they and their friends use, whether that be games or fashion, food, fitness, travel, or other lifestyle apps.
You’ll only see high quality apps in the App Center, based on user ratings and engagement.
The App Center is available on mobile via the Facebook apps for iOS and Android, or by accessing Facebook.com on mobile.
Stats:
- More than 230 million people play games on Facebook every month
- More than 130 games on Facebook have more than 1 million monthly active users.
- More than 4,500 timeline apps have launched since f8 in September 2011.
- Facebook drove people to the Apple App Store 83 million times in May.
- Facebook drove people to iOS apps 134 million times in May (someone who already has the app and is directed back to it from Facebook.)
- As of May, seven of the top 10 grossing iOS apps and six of the top 10 Android apps have integrated with Facebook.
Currently, Facebook’s app center is being made available to US users, with Facebook releasing the store globally over the next few weeks. When it’s available, users will see an “App Center” link in the left-hand sidebar of the desktop website.
Hannah is a freelance writer from London, UK. Having completed a degree in English, she discovered a passion for all things digital, and enjoys nothing more than writing about online communication, marketing and anything Apple-related. When she's not researching the latest app releases or ogling new gadgets, Hannah enjoys writing about personal development, yoga, and exploring the world. | Google Plus
