This list of mobile app distribution platforms includes

digital distribution Digital distribution, also referred to as content delivery, online distribution, or electronic software distribution, among others, is the delivery or distribution of digital media content such as audio, video, e-books, video games, and other s ...

platforms, or marketplace '

app store An App Store (or app marketplace) is a type of digital distribution platform for computer software called applications, often in a mobile context. Apps provide a specific set of functions which, by definition, do not include the running of the c ...

s', that are intended to provide mobile applications, aka 'apps' to

mobile device A mobile device (or handheld computer) is a computer small enough to hold and operate in the hand. Mobile devices typically have a flat LCD or OLED screen, a touchscreen interface, and digital or physical buttons. They may also have a physical k ...

s. For information on each mobile platform and its market share, see the

mobile operating system A mobile operating system is an operating system for mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, smartglasses, or other non-laptop personal mobile computing devices. While computers such as typical laptops are "mobile", the operating systems used on ...

and

smartphone A smartphone is a portable computer device that combines mobile telephone and computing functions into one unit. They are distinguished from feature phones by their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems, which ...

articles. A comparison of development capabilities of each mobile platform can be found in the article

mobile app development Mobile app development is the act or process by which a mobile app is developed for mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, enterprise digital assistants or mobile phones. These software applications are designed to run on mobile ...

. For cross-platform development, see mobile development framework. The

mobile software A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications which are designed to run on de ...

article contains other general information.

Mobile app platforms

Native platforms

These application marketplaces, or 'm' are native to the major mobile operating systems. There are native mobile app distribution platforms currently on this list. ;Notes:

Third-party platforms

Third-party platforms are

software distribution Software distribution is the process of delivering software to the end user. A distro is a collection of software components built, assembled and configured so that it can essentially be used "as is". It is often the closest thing to turnkey form ...

platforms which are used as alternatives for

operating system An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common daemon (computing), services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems scheduler (computing), schedule tasks for ef ...

native distribution platforms. Independent operating systems are software collections which use their own software distribution, customised

user interface In the industrial design field of human–computer interaction, a user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine fr ...

(UI),

software development kit A software development kit (SDK) is a collection of software development tools in one installable package. They facilitate the creation of applications by having a compiler, debugger and sometimes a software framework. They are normally specific t ...

(SDK) and

application programming interface An application programming interface (API) is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how t ...

(API) (except billing API which is related only to application store). There are third-party mobile app distribution platforms currently on this list.

References

Device platform references

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mobile App Distribution Platforms, List Of Mobile telecommunications Computing-related lists Internet-related lists

Mobile app platforms

Native platforms

Third-party platforms

See also

References

Device platform references