LG Electronics online mobile application store races to eat apple

LG Electronics, the world's No. 3 handset maker, is launching an online store for mobile phone applications tomorrow
Improving software is key for South Korean mobile phone makers Samsung and LG, which have grown on well-priced handsets but are lagging in the fast-growing smartphowne category.
LG has serious planes for the "LG Application Store" would provide 1,400 applications including 100 free programs, available in 15 languages.

The service will first be offered in Asia-Pacific countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Australia and will reach Europe and the South America by the end of this year, with the number of applications to be offered to increase to more than 2000 by then, LG said.,

Mobile hone makers are in a race to match the success of Apple's App Store, creating their own virtual stores where users can download software and content.
Improving software is key for South Korean mobile phone makers Samsung and LG, which have grown on well-priced handsets but are lagging in the fast-growing smartphowne category.

LG, which trails Nokia and Samsung Electronics in mobile phones, said in a statement on Monday that the "LG Application Store" would provide 1400 applications including 100 free programs, available in 15 languages.

This contrasts with Apple's App Store which has over 50,000 free and paid apps and Nokia's recently launched Ovi Store with some 20,0000 free and paid programs.

The service will first be offered in Asia-Pacific countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Australia and will reach Europe and the South America by the end of this year, with the number of applications to be offered to increase to more than 2000 by then, LG said.

Apple's iPhone App Store has hit 1.5 billion downloads

In its first year, Apple's iPhone App Store has hit 1.5 billion downloads and 65,000 apps.
Apple also has more than 100,000 developers in its iPhone Developer Program.

These are all new figures based on the July 11 anniversary of the App Store.