Verizon is again denying rumors it is planning on opening an app store and claims the carrier has been in talks with other carriers and hardware companies in relation to the store.
A report released last week started rumors the carrier would be opening an app store designed to rival the Google Play Store.
"We have no plans to do that," said a Verizon spokesperson. "Been there. Done that."
The reference to having been there is related to Verizon Apps, which was an app store that was shut down last year.
Despite the comment, the author of the original report is standing by what he said, saying the information that he received about the alleged future app store is in fact true.
"I and @theinformation stand by this report 100%," said states the author in a tweet. "Verizon's comment is misleading."
While Verizon may in fact decide to open another app store at some point down the road, app stores opened by carriers have never been as popular as the Google Play Store. This is largely because of a very limited selection in apps, as well as the fact that apps are not regularly updated.
The connection between carriers and customers is largely one of billing, meaning customers will likely be wary of app stores started by carriers. Hardware companies have, in the past, tried to leverage their relationship with customers via app stores, however again, this has never been as popular as the Google Play Store. Despite this, in some markets such as in China and Russia, third-party app stores have flourished due to the fact many devices do not use Google's official apps.
Amazon has also had some success in creating an alternative to the Google Play Store, having including an app store of its own on all of its Kindle Fire and Fire Phone devices.
Despite this, Verizon could very easily leverage its power with customers to build up its app store. For example, it could offer better data speeds to apps, which run over a network.
Google currently gives mobile carriers around 30 percent of its earnings from the Google Play Store. Apple, on the other hand, does not give any of its earnings to mobile carriers. Apple also does not leave room for alternatives to its app store, with the Apple App Store being required for iOS users to get new apps.
