Apple Takes Applications to the PC With New Mac Software Store

Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. will open a digital storefront next month that will try to do for computer software what it did for music and mobile applications.

The Mac App Store is scheduled to open on Jan. 6, the Cupertino, California-based company said in a statement today. The aim is to let Mac owners purchase programs for their desktops and laptops with a single click, much as they can buy songs on iTunes and games in the App Store for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Apple said at an Oct. 20 event that there are about 50 million Macs now in use.

The digital distribution method is a challenge to Microsoft Corp. and Adobe Systems Inc., which rely on networks of corporate consultants, retailers and online merchants to distribute their programs, often in the form of CDs costing more than $20.

“You’re not going to be able to sell a $39 shrink-wrapped box if people can get a competing product just by dragging a mouse, using a credit card that’s already on file and paying $5.99,” said Jason Izatt, a developer who makes a popular mileage-tracking iPhone application called Milebug.

The Mac App Store will be available in 90 countries and will feature paid and free applications in education, games and design, Apple said today in the statement.

“The App Store revolutionized mobile apps,” Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive officer, said in the statement. “We hope to do the same for PC apps with the Mac App Store by making finding and buying PC apps easy and fun.”

Adobe declined to comment about whether it will make software available in the store. “Adobe’s millions of customers can already download our Mac software from the Adobe Store,” Jodi Sorensen, a spokeswoman, said.

Microsoft also declined to comment. “We’re working to understand the impact of the new app store to the Office for Mac business,” Amanda Lefebvre, a Microsoft spokeswoman, said.

--Editors: Margot Slade, John Lear

Source: businessweek

Posted in: Apple, Mac