Palm to Open E-commerce Beta Program for Palm App Catalog

Palm says that starting today developers who wish to charge for their Palm webOS applications can begin submitting them for consideration in the Palm App Catalog e-commerce beta program, which will begin in mid-September.

Developers selected to participate in the beta program will have the opportunity to have their applications, both free and paid, featured in the Palm App Catalog ahead of the next wave, and to be among the first to be paid for purchases of their Palm webOS applications.

As part of the App Catalog e-commerce beta program for the Palm Pre phone and future Palm webOS devices, developers will receive a 70/30 split (developer/Palm) of gross revenues generated through application sales (less applicable sales taxes). Customers will be able to purchase applications using Visa and MasterCard credit cards.

Further details about the program and distribution model will be provided in the coming weeks. Palm expects to launch the full developer program in the United States this autumn.

"We're rolling out the submission process and e-commerce capabilities of the Palm App Catalog with careful consideration for both the developer and customer," said Katie Mitic, senior vice president, Product Marketing, Palm, Inc. "We want every part of the Palm webOS experience to be the best, and a strong e-commerce model is key to a thriving developer community, great apps and an excellent customer experience."

Posted to the site on 18th August 2009