Not all app stores online

Smartphones and the accompanying online stores that sell applications for them may be gaining ground across emerging markets, according to a study conducted by a London-based telecommunications research and analysis firm, but Cambodia’s market is limited by a lack of places to legitimately purchase apps, and by low disposable incomes among most Cambodians. ... For Cambodians, the only alternative is to turn to mobile phone stores and vendors who provide the apps through legitimate or illegitimate means and place themselves, as Hurst said, “as the leading providers of apps in emerging markets, emulating the position that they [app stores] occupy in developed markets. However, in countries such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa, MNOs [mobile network operators] with strong app store propositions will fight to defend their positions.” ... The average price among the five stores on the Sorya Shopping Centre’s third level for MP3 music files was 500 riel (US$0.125) per song, with MP4s averaging 1,000 riel per song, and dictionaries were $5, according to Vatanak, a salesperson at Top Tech Accessories. ...

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