Analysts: Android apps cost too much

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Software apps in Google's Android Market are overpriced and that's a concern for both U.S. users and developers, a Web tech site reports analysts as saying.

Experts at Canalys said top paid-for apps from the Android Market cost more than their equivalents on the Apple store, theinquirer.net reported Friday.

Canalys conducted its study in the United States and found purchasing the top 100 paid-for apps in the Android store would cost $374.37 while doing the same on the Apple App Store would cost only $147.

The high price facing users could mean developers might also suffer as Android smartphone owners could be less likely to buy apps, Canalys said.

"That developers can apparently charge more for their apps on Android and make it into the top paid list is clearly a positive," said Rachel Lashford, Canalys managing director for mobile.

"But the reality is that with fewer people willing to purchase apps on Android than on iOS today, there is more of a necessity to do so," she said.

Developers should pursue "more aggressive price competition" and try to tempt users that have resisted paid-for apps in favor of free alternatives, she said.

"Selling more apps at higher prices is the Holy Grail for developers, but achieving big volumes of paid apps on Android is no small challenge."