If Apple's forthcoming Mac App Store goes on to enjoy even a portion of the success the original App Store for iOS has amassed, January 6 will prove to be an important date.

As confirmed by Apple, that's the day the new marketplace will make its debut, with 90 countries targeted from day one.

Return of the Mac

The platform, which will be available as a free software update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard owners, threatens to unseat typical distributions models that, at the moment, still focus on delivering high priced physical goods to retailers.

The prospect of apps that tick many of the same boxes as full programs, but are available at the click of the button and for a fraction of a price will be, in Apple CEO Steve Jobs' view, especially enticing to the consumer.

However, it's the fact that - as with the App Store on iOS - developers will retain 70 percent of each app's revenue that could prove most crucial as Apple looks to populate the platform.

"The App Store revolutionised mobile apps," said Jobs.

"We hope to do the same for PC apps with the Mac App Store by making finding and buying PC apps easy and fun."

Developers looking to target software at the Mac App Store should visit the marketplace's official website.