Handango First to Offer Applications for Google Android G1

Handango (News - Alert) Inc., a retailer of smartphone applications, has globally announced that it will be the first retailer to offer both paid and free applications for the first Android (News - Alert) smartphone device set to launch on October 22^nd.

"Handango has always offered its customers the widest variety of smartphone apps available on the market and on all major operating systems," states Bill Stone, CEO Handango, in a company statement.

"Handango is now offering developers the opportunity to sell the paid apps they create for the Android platform as well as offer any free apps when the first Android
device launches. Customers can purchase apps via the Web and then download them to their device."

Developers will now be able to add Android applications directly to their Handango developer accounts and distribute them by giving the application away for free; selling the application for a one-time purchase fee; or selling the application for a monthly, quarterly or annual subscription fee.

The following select titles will be made available on Handango for the first Android smartphone, the G1:

MONOPOLY: Here & Now and Tetris

The Weather Channel for Android

Voice on the Go (News - Alert)

ShopSavvy
EzQuote
GoogHelper

Tipper

FitSync

Par 72 Golf II

Vegas Pool Sharks
Accutracking

FotMob

Handango is also sponsoring a contest in which it will award the best free Android application and the best-paid Android application upload to the Handango catalog by November 7, 2008.

Each winner in the contest will be eligible to receive a $25,000 advertising allowance within the company’s numerous marketing initiatives which include e-mail marketing; featured products on Handango.com; paid and neutral search keywords; online advertising; PR; and promotion on affiliate program.

Handango is a provider of smartphone applications for BlackBerry (News - Alert), Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian OS and Android. The company leverages its 140,000+ applications, network of 23,000+ content partners and vast distribution network to deliver top-selling mobile applications that include fames, business and entertainment solutions.

Applications can be downloaded through the company’s website, partner websites, SD cards and Handango’s proprietary on-device catalog. Handango offers what it positions as unparalleled content expertise which has attracted numerous mobile industry partners, including Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Alltel, Nokia, Research In Motion, Sony Ericsson (News - Alert), Samsung, AOL and The Carphone Warehouse.

Many in the market have long anticipated Google’s entry into the mobile phone space. The highly awaited G1 is to hit markets next week and has received positive reviews. The open standards of the Android platform will allow for extensive applications available to users, creating significant opportunity for developers.

Handango is helping to extend these opportunities, channeling the fun of this new platform to both developers and consumers.