The Android Apps Market is Coming to Canada

The Android Market, an open distribution channel for mobile applications (apps), is coming to Canada exclusively through Rogers Wireless with the launch of the HTC Dream and HTC Magic in June. As of May 15, there were already more than 3200 apps available in Android Market, and that number is growing rapidly.

The HTC Dream and HTC Magic smartphones, the first cellphones in Canada powered by the Android platform and featuring access to Android Market, will soon be available from Rogers Wireless.

"Innovation is part of our DNA at Rogers Wireless," said John Boynton, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Wireless. "Exclusively available through Rogers Wireless in Canada, the leading-edge Android-powered HTC Dream and HTC Magic will allow consumers to fully personalize their handsets with an expansive choice of apps in Android Market, when they launch in June."

A recent survey showed that Canadians want their smartphones their way and are flocking to application stores to customize their handsets. Polling conducted in May 2009 by Ipsos-Reid on behalf of Rogers Wireless showed one in four Canadian smartphone user has already downloaded a mobile application of their choice from an app store, with the average consumer downloading 19 apps in the past year. App stores are still fairly new for Canadians with survey data showing nearly one quarter of Canadian smartphone users already downloading from application stores after only one year of availability.

The same survey showed that of wirelessly connected Canadians accessing the web from their mobile devices, 70 per cent are using personal email, and nearly one in three are using search and maps.

Rogers will release additional details of the launch soon.

Posted to the site on 20th May 2009