App store Facts for Kids

This page is about the concept. For the store for most Android devices, see Google Play. For the store for Apple mobile apps, see App Store (Apple). For the store for Fire OS, see Amazon Appstore.

An app store is like an online shop where you can find and download computer programs, called apps. Most of the time, we talk about app stores for phones and tablets. Apps are designed to do specific things, like play games, help you with homework, or let you talk to friends.

Apps usually work on a specific mobile operating system, like iOS (for iPhones), iPadOS (for iPads), or Android. In the past, phone companies had their own special places to get apps.

An app store is similar to a package manager, which helps manage software on a computer. But app stores offer more, like helping you discover new apps, showing user reviews, checking for safety, making sure licenses are followed, and handling payments easily. App stores focus on being easy to use and helping people find cool new apps.

What is an App Store?
History of App Stores
"App Store" Trademark
See also

What is an App Store?

An app store is an online place where you can look for and get software or other digital stuff. The app store itself makes it safe and easy to buy, unlock, and install apps or other digital media.

App stores usually sort apps by what they do. This includes games, videos, or tools for school or work. They also sort by the type of device the app is for, and the operating system it runs on.

Most app stores look like an online shop. Users can browse different app groups and see details about each app. This includes things like reviews or ratings. You can then get the app, either for free or by buying it. Once you choose an app, it downloads and installs automatically. Some app stores can even remove a program if it's found to be harmful, to keep you safe.

App stores usually let users write reviews and give ratings. These reviews are helpful for other users, for the people who make the apps, and for the app store owners. Users can pick the best apps based on ratings. Developers get ideas on what people like or don't like. App store owners can find bad or unsafe apps by looking at reviews.

Many app stores are checked by their owners. This means new apps must go through an approval process. Apps are checked to make sure they follow rules for quality control and what is allowed. If an app costs money, the app store usually takes a small fee from each sale. Some app stores also tell developers how many times their app was installed or if it had problems.

History of App Stores

Early Ways to Get Software

Before modern app stores, there were other ways to get software.

In the 1980s, Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) appeared. These were online services where people could download software. You might pay a monthly fee or pay for each program you downloaded.

The Electronic AppWrapper was one of the first places to sell software online. It helped manage how software was encrypted and protected. It was shown to Steve Jobs in 1993. Before this, people usually got software on floppy disks or CDs.

A screenshot of Stone Design's 3DReality running on The Electronic AppWrapper, an early app store.

Many Linux computer systems use something called a package manager. These tools help you install and manage software on your computer. They don't usually handle money. Package managers can automatically find and install new software, along with anything else it needs to work.

Package managers existed before app stores. By the mid-1990s, they could automatically update programs and remove them cleanly. Some app stores now have these features too.

Some well-known package managers include FreeBSD Ports (1994) and Debian's APT (1998).

In 1997, BeDepot launched. It was an app store and package manager for BeOS computers. It sold both free and paid apps and handled updates.

In 1998, Palmix launched. It was an online app store just for mobile devices. It sold apps for Palm Pilots, Windows CE devices, and Psion handhelds.

In 1999, NTT DoCoMo in Japan launched i-mode. This was the first online app store built into mobile phones. It became very popular in Japan. Other phone companies then made their own similar services.

In 2002, the Linux computer system Linspire introduced an app store called Click'N'Run. For a yearly fee, users could install free and paid apps with just one click.

Smartphone App Stores

In September 2003, Danger Inc. updated T-Mobile Sidekick phones with a new app called Download Fun. This was one of the first modern app stores on a smartphone. It let users download ringtones and apps directly to their phone. They were charged through their phone bill.

In October 2003, Handango launched an app store for Sony Ericsson phones. You could find, install, and buy software right on the phone.

In 2006, Nokia introduced Nokia Catalogs for Symbian smartphones. This gave access to downloadable apps.

Apple released iPhone OS 2.0 in July 2008, along with the App Store. This was a big step for third-party apps on iPhones. Users could buy and download new apps directly on their device or through iTunes on a computer. The App Store became a huge success for Apple.

The popularity of Apple's App Store led to the general term "app store" being used. Other mobile operating systems quickly launched their own app stores. The Android Market (now Google Play) launched in September 2008. BlackBerry's App World launched in April 2009. Nokia's Ovi Store, Microsoft's Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Palm's App Catalog, and Samsung's Samsung Apps all launched that same year.

Other App Stores

The popular Linux system Ubuntu introduced its own graphical software manager called the Ubuntu Software Center in 2009. In 2010, it added the ability to buy certain apps.

"App Store" Trademark

The term "app store" became very popular. Apple tried to trademark the phrase "App Store" in 2008. In 2011, Apple sued Amazon.com and GetJar. Apple claimed they were using the term "app store" unfairly. Microsoft also argued that "app store" was a common term and shouldn't be trademarked.

In January 2013, a US court said Apple did not show enough proof that Amazon was trying to copy Apple's service. In July 2013, Apple dropped its case against Amazon.

App store facts for kids

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