Enter Amazon, a virtual king in the virtual retail space of the internet. Once a small company aimed at selling only books out of a huge warehouse. Initially thought to have no chance against big box retail chains like Barnes & Nobles or Borders, Amazon has now opened their own web-based Android AppStore. Visit the site and you'll be greeted with a rarity in the Android app-sales world - discounted apps at the low low price of Free!
On their first day the doors were thrown opened and greeted their first customers with none other than the brand new Angry Birds Rio for free. This is the full ad-free version to boot, and it has helped bolster the Amazon AppStore to compete directly with the Android Market. Have we a replacement means of getting our mobile MB fix for Android? Possibly, though time will tell, and Amazon has come out strong with integrated searching and suggestions like none other.
My personal experience with it is nothing short of a miracle. Things like showcasing discounted apps and displaying the old and new price as well as signature Amazon-ian filtering were not present via Google. By going with Amazon, all patrons now have assurance in the fact that all purchases are made through Amazon with the currency they used everyday. The Android Marketplace forces US citizens to make international purchases with apps developed in other countries. Amazon controls all the sales so you can even used an Amazon gift card if you have one.
If you haven't checked it out yet the link is below. Do yourself a favor and make the switch. Oh, and make sure you have enabled the installation of apps from unknown sources (Settings>Applications>Unknown sources). Sorry AT&T customers, you don't have this option, but Amazon says they are working closely to resolve this.
Amazon Appstore for Android
