Amazon planning app store for Android - report

SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Amazon.com Inc is planning to open an applications store that runs on Google Inc's mobile Android platform, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Amazon's offering would compete with existing app stores from Apple Inc and Google itself.

When asked for comment, an Amazon spokesman said via email: "We haven't announced anything."

A Google spokesman said the company does not comment on rumor or speculation.

Amazon is offering app developers 70 percent of revenue from sales, the Journal reported, citing an Amazon document for developers.

That revenue sharing arrangement is the same that Apple offers app developers for its platform.

Apple's App Store has more than 270,000 apps, while Google's Android Marketplace boasts more than 80,000 apps.

Android has been quickly gaining popularity as a smartphone platform, and has begun to challenge Apple with consumers. Android is used on devices such as Motorola's Droid and Samsung's Galaxy S.