Apple launched the App Store for iPhone and iPod touch in July 2008.
The service opened on July 10, 2008, alongside the iPhone 3G. It gave users a central place to discover and install software made by Apple and outside developers. Before the App Store, installing third-party applications on an iPhone was not officially supported.
The launch changed mobile software distribution. Developers could submit applications to Apple, while Apple reviewed them before publication. This created a large software ecosystem and a new source of revenue through paid downloads and in-app purchases.
A common mix-up is confusing the App Store with Apple's Mac App Store, which opened in 2011. The iOS App Store remains associated with Apple's iPhone and iPad platforms.