Facebook Launches App Center

Facebook has launched App Center on the social network and on its iPhone and Android applications.

App Center, first announced last month, is apparently designed to make it easier for Facebook’s 900 million users to find and share apps to use on the social network.

It will launch in the US today with over 600 applications and other markets will receive access “soon”.

Poke this

Facebook says that the App Center will give “developers an additional way to grow their apps and creates opportunities for more types of apps to be successful.”

Personalised recommendations are given and users are able to send apps they find on their computer straight to their mobile device, using the new ‘send to mobile’ feature. If the app must be downloaded, you will be prompted to download it from either the App Store or Google Play.

Users will be able to see what applications their friends are using and user ratings will ensure only high quality apps are shown. Facebook says that prvacy will be assured

Free, premium and freemium applications can be included, but all developers interested in having their product were required to ensure that it used Facebook log-in and to submit screenshots and a description, with priority given to those who supplied these before 18 May.

Applications using micro-transactions have become increasingly important to Facebook’s finances, with social game developer Zynga contributing 15 percent of its income so far in 2012 through advertising and processing fees.

Rival Google+ has shown intentions of muscling in on this valuable revenue stream, introducing games such as Angry Birds and Zynga Poker to its social network. Google has pledged to take just a five percent cut of any payments, comparing favourably with the 30 percent that Facebook makes from purchases made by many of its 200 million game players.

What do you know about social networks? Find out with our quiz!