Amazon launched an app store to make it easier for sellers to find Amazon-approved tools to help them sell more efficiently as it also appears to be seeking tighter control of such tools offered by outside developers.
News of the Amazon Marketplace Appstore (not to be confused with the Amazon Appstore for consumer users) surfaced on Monday through a press release issued by third-party service provider Seller Labs, which provides Amazon merchants with tools to automate email messaging, Amazon keyword and product research, and Amazon Sponsored Products ads (PPC) management.
It followed the news we reported on Friday about a new program called the Amazon Marketplace Developer Council, an invitation-only program for software developers who integrate with Amazon via Marketplace Web Service (MWS).
The Amazon Marketplace Appstore is in public beta, and developers must request an invitation.
Developers must offer an existing application used by Amazon sellers; they must be in good standing; and they must undergo a business and practices review by Amazon, among other criteria for being accepted.
Amazon describes the program as follows: “The Marketplace Appstore is a new site on Seller Central that features Amazon Marketplace Web Service (Amazon MWS) applications created by Amazon and external developers for Amazon sellers.”
Cnet reported today that the app store would be introduced to sellers slowly “to ensure a smooth rollout.”
