HTC Merge To Come Preloaded With Amazon Appstore [Amazon's Thirdparty Marketplace To Come Standard On Cellular South's Upcoming Android Phone, Beginning Of An Era?]

Posted on TFTS by Kevin Schram on Tuesday, 29. March 2011 under: Mobile/Cell Phones

You knew the HTC Merge was coming to Cellular South, but did you know that the phone was also going to be the first to come preloaded with the Amazon Appstore? Yes, it’s true. The Amazon Appstore launched just a week or so ago, but it’s going to start coming preloaded on phones. Starting with the HTC Merge, at least for the time being.

In the press released issued by Cellular South, Amazon’s Aaron Rubenson says:

Amazon Appstore for Android is a new and convenient way to shop and discover new Android apps for your smart phone or tablet. Together with Cellular South, we are committed to helping customers navigate through the thousands of available apps to find those that are the most relevant to them. We aim to give customers a refreshing and unique app shopping experience.

It’s probably just the beginning of seeing the Amazon Appstore preloaded on phones. Carriers love preloaded software because they usually get paid to put it on there. Android fans and Google don’t – which is why phones like the Nexus series exist to have at least one phone out there with a pure experience.

Anyway, Amazon has deep pockets, and I expect them to get the Amazon Appstore on as many Android phones as they can with as many carriers as they can. For Amazon, if it starts coming preloaded on the phones, that’s a huge coup for Amazon and puts them at least an even starting point with the Android Market.

What would be really horrible, is the possibility that carriers might putting the Amazon Appstore on Android phones in favor of the Android Market. It could happen – Android devices that aren’t recognized by the Open Handset Alliance don’t carry the Android Market. That would really be bad for the consumers. As nice as I think the Amazon Appstore is, I don’t think it should come to that.