Users in the UK and in France will now be able to access a new application store, which has been launched by one of the top mobile network providers Orange with its own branding and has been called the Orange App Shop.

The Le Web 2009 that was held in Paris recently saw Orange announcing the launch of its new app store, which will apparently contain over 5000 ringtones, games, wallpapers and apps in its catalogue as the company attempts to tap into the highly lucrative market for mobile applications.

At some point over the next year countries including Romania, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Spain, Moldova, Belgium, Switzerland and Slovakia will be able to access services from the new store according to the promises that have been made by the France-based mobile network operators.

Customers in the UK and in France will be the first to be offered the new app store service “over the air” by the company, which currently has a number of customer bases throughout the whole of Europe.

From January 2010 the Sony Ericsson W995 and the Nokia 6700 will be among the number of handsets that are soon to be launched on the Orange network that will have access to this new app store directly.

Handsets from manufacturers like Samsung, LG and Motorola will be among the mobile phones that will be made compatible in the next couple of months according to the indications given by Orange. The upgraded handsets will be able to access the store with a single click as the home screens of the new phones will come with the new app store built into the home screen.

The requirement for a constant entry of credit card details every time a new app is brought is not an issue as all the content in the Orange App Shop, which will include Orange Games, Orange Maps and Orange TV are purchased through a single Orange mobile bill.

Source – IT Pro Portal