Amazon has launched a paid Android app store in China as part of its efforts to boost its digital content offerings in the country.
Claimed to be the first Western technology firm to offer paid-for Android apps in China, the online retailer’s move is anticipated to pave the way for launching a range of devices including the Kindle e-reader and the Kindle Fire devices in the country.
Google’s official app store on the other hand only offers free apps in China.
In December 2012, the company had opened its Kindle e-book store in China and launched its Android app store during the weekend to allow users to download both free and paid apps.
According to reports, majority of other locally-based services that already offer paid apps to China face issues related to malicious software incorporated within apps.
In April 2013, the Amazon Appstore hit 200 new countries that include Canada, Mexico, Brazil, India, and China.
Amazon originally launched its app store two years ago with about 4,000 apps including a free version of Angry Birds Rio, while it currently offers about 75,000 apps.
Separately, Amazon previously announced a plan to launch a subscription based streaming music service similar to Spotify.
