A report from The Information says Verizon is having conversations with hardware manufacturers about developing its own application storefront, though they have not developed into any specific plans. The concept is that Verizon would create a “different kind of app store,” allowing developers to tap into Verizon data to power app recommendations. ile similar app recommendation ideas have been floated around before, it is difficult to see how this would benefit consumers. Customers of Verizon other carriers already have an extensive choice of apps from the ay Store, which continues to narrow the revenue gap with Apple’s App Store. Additionally, carriers already preinstall some applications, sometimes derided as “bloatware,” that can not be uninstalled from a device. Should Verizon launch its own app storefront it could open the door even wider for companies or software developers who want to have their apps permanently installed or otherwise prominently featured, adding further noise to your smartphone experience.
