Competition between app marketplaces and discovery sites is just as heated as it is amongst the apps themselves.

There are now a wealth of third-party sites either listing or directly selling apps for multiple platforms, and finding some form of distinction between them is something that concerns the companies behind them just as much as it does consumers.

Appitalism.com's trump card is a focus on networking. In the firm's own words, the site is a social community first, an online store second.

Social selling

"Appitalism was developed as an open marketplace, combining a large variety of content with the ability for consumers to discuss, review and rate that content," said company CEO Simon Buckingham.

"Our goal is to be the leading destination for consumers seeking to learn about and purchase the highest rated apps and content for any device."

One vital component in attempting to reach that goal comes in the form of Appitalism's multi-platform approach.

As well as targeting PCs and eBook readers, the site caters for all the major smartphone platforms and formats – iPhone, Android, webOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Symbian and Java all on board – not to mention the apps aimed at Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

Marketplace meeting

But the reason Appitalism believes consumers will gravitate towards its site rather than others is the honest account its users give each apps it sells.

As well as supposedly 'unbiased reviews', users can freely chat, discuss and rate all content on the site.

Members are encouraged to do as such, also, with 'app rewards' – which can be redeemed for content from a set calatog – on offer for active users who contribute reviews aplenty across the site.