Directly linking the App Store to the world's largest social network, Apple has partnered with Vitrue to launch an official page for the marketplace on Facebook.
The page, which anyone can become a fan of, connects users and highlights apps currently topping both the paid and free charts.
Fans can also directly search the App Store from the page itself, the option to purchase redirecting them to iTunes' web-based preview portal.
It's a logical move for Apple as it intends to expand the App Store's reach with the launch of iPad next month.
Match made in heaven
The company called upon community branding specialist Vitrue to develop the page, the firm itself revealing its launch via a blog post.
"With more than 170,000 apps available in the App Store and with more than 3 billion downloads, bringing the incredibly popular App Store to Facebook was a perfect fit," Vitrue said on its blog.
"Both the App Store and Facebook are currently two of hottest application development platforms today, so bringing the two together is a match made in heaven. People love their apps and nowhere are they better able to express these feelings than Facebook."
The launch of the App Store Facebook page follows the launch of the iTunes Facebook page, also powered by Vitrue, which has grown to over 3.2 million fans in less than 10 months.
Rich user experience
Though entirely viewed within the confines of Facebook, Vitrue has managed to deliver a surprisingly coherent App Store experience through the page, retaining both the look and feel of iTunes albeit in a slimmed down form.
Most importantly, however, users are able to share their App Store likes and dislikes with any of their friends on Facebook.
Such implementation mirrors the App Store gifting service Apple recently launched, which enables users to pay for and send apps to their friends.
As a result, both set-ups mean studios don't have to rely on traditional and often expensive forms of advertising to propagate take up of their apps. Rather, the App Store is increasingly becoming a service where severe momentum can be built through word of mouth alone.
[source: Vitrue]
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
Feature
May 17th, 2024
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from a battle royale to a console classic remake
Feature
May 16th, 2024
Behind the scenes: How adding sandwich offers to an idle merge game boosted three metrics at once
Events
Digital Dragons | Europe | May 19th |
GamesBeat Summit 2024 | North America | May 20th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Nordic Game Spring 2024 | Nordic | May 21st |
Impact 2024 - Indie Games | May 23rd | |
Morocco Gaming Expo | Africa | May 24th |
MomoCon 2024 | North America | May 24th |
Unreal Fest Gold Coast 2024 | Australasia | May 29th |
Popular Stories
Feature
May 14th, 2024
53 top mobile games in soft launch: Squad Busters, Battle Guys: Royale, Plants vs. Zombies 3, LEGO Hill Climb Adventures, and more
Feature
May 13th, 2024
Hot Five: Dubai's new Gaming Visa, April's mobile game charts, and Xbox studio closures
Feature
May 14th, 2024