A Comparison of App Store User Terms
The hot topic of conversation lately seems to be the app stores that are popping up for mobile devices. Matthew Miller, on his Smartphones and Cell Phones blog, has a rundown of the terms and conditions at four mobile app marketplaces, which is an important factor to consider in your purchasing, though I’m sure many of us overlook it. I agree with Matt’s conclusions, but personal usage scenarios should play a big role in determining what store is best for you.
One difference between the stores, which I think plays a critical role in determining their app sharing policy, is the use of a PC-based client, such as iTunes for the iPhone. The iPhone + iTunes combination is the key element of Apple’s app sharing policy, which allows up to five devices to use the same apps. I think the other stores should seek to offer a similar option if they want to be truly competitive.
