Amazon Appstore finally arrives in the UK

Almost a year and a half after its launch in the US, the Amazon Appstore has finally launched in key European territories.

It’s now available in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain on Android powered smartphones and tablets.

It offers a typical selection of apps but differentiates itself through initiatives such as Free App of the Day, which as the name might suggest offers one previously premium download for free for 24 hours.

To coincide with the launch today’s freebie is none other than Angry Birds, while PopCap’s Plants vs Zombies will be tomorrow’s.

Any apps purchased from Amazon’s portable launch straight from the Android’s native interface.

Functionality includes Amazon’s GameCircle that allows developers to sync gamers’ leaderboards, achievements and saves across compatible devices. In app payments and subscriptions are also supported.

Customers in the US have purchased millions of apps, games, in-app items and subscriptions since the store launched last year,” Amazon Appstore VP Jim Adkins stated.

Amazon has spent years developing innovative features that help customers find and discover the products that are right for them and have applied that know-how to the Amazon Appstore. We’re delighted to extend that experience to our European customers.”

Rovio CEO Peter Vesterbacka added: "Amazon’s Free App of the Day programme is really unique. Over the past year we have offered Amazon customers some of our best-selling premium games like ‘Angry Birds Rio’ and ‘Angry Birds Seasons’, for free, and the response has been truly overwhelming.”