Marketing and all things related

Today, the new Apple Apps store opened online where iPhone and iPod Touch users will have access to applications created by programmers around the world that can be downloaded to use on iPhones and iPods.  At launch, the Apple Apps store had over 500 applications available for download.

The business model for the Apple Apps store plans for 25% of the apps to be offered for free download and 90% of the apps will be available for a cost $9.99 or less.  According to an article from USA Today, Steve Jobs claims the purpose of the Apple Apps store is not for Apple to make money.  Instead, the goal is to sell more iPhones.  That could be true based on the fact that Apple is only taking 30% of the revenue generated from each app sold through the Apple Apps store, and the developer of the application will get 70%.  However, when you consider that Microsoft has over 18,000 applications available for its Windows Mobile system, according to a New York Times article, 30% could add up quickly as new apps are added to the Apple Apps store and more users download them.

So what do you think?  Do you believe Steve Jobs that the Apple Apps store will help to sell more iPhones without being a big revenue generator in and of itself?  I still think that until consumers can use the iPhone through cellular carriers other than AT&T, there are many consumers who won't buy an iPhone, regardless of the apps available for it.  Your thoughts...