GetJar

Sprint and GetJar announced that the GetJar catalog is now available on the Sprint portal for most Sprint handsets. According to VentureBeat, the companies don’t pay each other anything. Instead GetJar monetizes by enabling developers to buy downloads, while Sprint now offers a free service to their consumer base.

Interestingly, Handmark powers Sprint’s Digital Lounge. Both Handmark and GetJar support BlackBerry, Palm and Windows Mobile applications. It is unknown if and how the partnership with GetJar influences the Sprint Digital Lounge.

GetJar is working on providing paid applications in their store. Until then, Sprint’s customers will have access only to GetJar’s free catalog of apps.

Last week, GetJar also announced a white label version of their app store, enabling other companies to easily create an app store, offering GetJar’s vast selection of content.

HandMarket Apps for Windows Mobile

Yesterday, we covered Microsoft attracting iPhone developers to go for Windows Marketplace at its launch later this year. Now Handmark, which has been developing and selling mobile applications since 2000 in its storefront,  announced the launch of HandMarket Apps for Windows Mobile.

The store supports current Windows Mobile 6.0 phones and up. This is the same as Windows Marketplace will support. There are 600 apps and games available, both free and paid.

HandMarket apps will initially only be available in the US. Consumers can pay for applications using credit card and operator billing for Sprint, Alltel and AT&T.

One big difference with the Handmark store and Microsoft’s own Windows Marketplace, is that Marketplace will be already present on new Windows Mobile phones, where HandMarket Apps can be downloaded from the Handmark website.

Handmark has been developing and selling mobile applications since 2000 in its storefront. Today they announced to bring their 25 most popular titles to Blackberry App World.

“We are dedicated to bringing games and applications to BlackBerry customers that offer a rich, connected mobile experience,” said Evan Conway, executive vice president of Marketing for Handmark. “In addition to the mobile stores we offer, we are excited to support BlackBerry App World, making it easier than ever for BlackBerry users to discover great content for their smartphone.” (via ibtimes.com)

So while running both branded and white-labeled app stores, Handmark seems to expect a lot from Blackberry App World.