Apple operates the App Store for iPhone and iPad apps.
Apple launched the App Store on July 10, 2008, one day before the iPhone 3G became available in the United States and several other markets. It gave users a centralized way to discover, download, and update software for Apple mobile devices.
The store originally opened with about 500 applications. It became a major distribution channel for developers and helped establish the modern smartphone-app economy.
The App Store is often confused with Google Play, which serves Android devices, or with the broader phrase “app store,” which can describe any software marketplace. Apple controls the App Store for its platforms, while developers submit apps for review under Apple’s rules and business terms.