'There is no need to have a Verizon, DoCoMo or Vodafone store for apps...'
The CEO of DIY mobile apps platform Mobile Roadie has strongly criticised attempts by mobile operators to launch their own app stores.
Michael Schneider says he's "not impressed" by the launch of the Wholesale Application Community - a coalition of 24 operators aiming to provide one pipe for developers to get apps onto their stores.
"I think that the operators feel left out and are trying to play catch up," Schneider tells Music Week.
"There is no need to have a Verizon, DoCoMo or Vodafone store for apps. It’s not good for the consumer. They just want a single place to find what they are looking for."
Mobile Roadie helps bands and brands produce their own apps for iPhone and Android - it added support for the latter last week. It seems the company won't be working with WAC anytime soon.
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"Carriers can do interesting things like pre-load apps onto phones, but ultimately this is a market that will be dominated by the iPhone, followed by Google Android and then Ovi Store and BlackBerry App World" says Schneider.
"I don’t think this is going to be carrier-driven."
