Application Store
This article is a work in progress.
Problem Space(s)
Overall, the current eco-system of Application Stores and Markets does not benefit application developers, service providers, enterprises, nor users.
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Just Free Software Just Won't Work
In the approach of the popular F-Droid type of market place, the restrictions placed on what is considered eligible for inclusion are too restrictive, and can not achieve anywhere near a critical mass market momentum of any sort by simply being "different".
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Cost of Operation
Application store providers like Apple and Google will charge the customer, or the seller, a significant proportion of the earnings originating from the sale of either the product, or the services associated with the product.
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Terms and Conditions
The end-user as well as the provider of applications is subjected to volatile Terms & Conditions under the auspicous that these work out for both as well as the broker -- but they really only work for the broker, and customers and providers find themselves subjected to the volatility without much of an opportunity to redress grievances.
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Incentive Structures
Ubiquitous availability of third-party controlled advertising as often the only means to generate revenue from the consumption of an application is, by definition, a privacy-intrusive incentive with an aim to draw the user's attention by (almost) whatever means necessary, impacting health. Surely, there is a better way.
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Certification of Devices
The artificial facility of fictive increased security through certification at the discretion of a sole party creates a vendor lock-in dependency for consumers, third-party customers, and the mobility eco-system as a whole.
Context(s)
An application store is a distribution channel for providers of applications that run on all, or selected sub-sets of mobile devices.