Amazon Extends Developer Select Programme To UK Ahead Of Fire Phone Launch

Amazon has expanded its Developer Select Programme to the UK, Germany, France and Spain as it seeks to boost the number of apps optimised for its Fire Phone due to be released later this year.

The Amazon Developer Select Programme, launched in the US last year, provides a number of visibility and monetisation options for Android applications that meet a number of criteria.

These include compatibility with Amazon Kindle Fire tablets and the upcoming Fire smartphone, as well as support for Amazon advertising APIs and GameCircle features.

Amazon developers

Since Fire Phone uses a forked version of Android, developers can receive a range of benefits if they comply with the requirements while still ensuring their app is compatible with other Android-based devices.

Participating applications will be featured in a dedicated section of the Amazon Appstore, while developers who make their apps available in the US will receive 500,000 ad impressions on the Amazon Mobile Ad network.

Any user who buys such an app will be given 30 percent of the cost back in Amazon Coins, while developers will also receive 25 percent back on the purchase of Amazon Web Services in credit up to $500 per year. In addition, any application that is optimised for the Fire Phone will receive 500,000 Amazon Coins.

Announced last month, the Fire Phone is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM and boasts a 4.7-inch display capable of simulating 3D images. Amazon hopes the device can replicate the success of its Kindle Fire tablet range, which was priced aggressively in the hope of recouping costs through the sale of digital content.

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