HP urges developers to join its app store
Hewlett-Packard is fighting to persuade more developers to jump on board its app store as it prepares to launch its first tablet PC next month.
The world’s biggest computer manufacturer lags far behind market leaders Apple and Google in the booming market. Its online store offers just 7,000 apps, compared to more than 500,000 on Apple’s App Store and almost 300,000 on Google’s Android Marketplace.
Analysts say it is vital developers provide apps if the upcoming TouchPad is to have even the slimmest of chances of chipping market share from established rivals like the iPad.
Many developers are wary of going to the expense of porting their products onto HP’s WebOS platform while it is unproven in the market.
City A.M. was given an exclusive sneak preview of the TouchPad running an early version of WebOS at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year and, while perfectly useable, it is far from revolutionary and gives no compelling reason to choose HP’s offering over the all-conquering iPad.
Last year Apple raked in an estimated $1.8bn (£1.1bn) through its App Store, an 87 per cent share of revenue, while Google made $100m.