Amazon's next big step: Android Appstore launches in China

As Amazon prepares to go global with its Android Appstore, the company made a huge step into the Chinese market over the weekend, launching its paid and free app online store in the country. The online store originally launched two years ago in the U.S. and later expanded to Europe. This expansion to China is part of the company's worldwide plans. Notably, Amazon potentially has the upperhand over Google, as the latter's Play Store only features free apps and games in China. Amazon is now the first Western technology company to directly offer paid Android apps in China, notes Reuters, although it will still have to compete with hundreds of other local app distribution companies. The company says that it is working with software developers to increase the number of apps and games available via its Appstore in China. The Amazon Appstore will also launch soon in various other countries worldwide, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, India, South Africa and South Korea.