Since its launch in March 2011, over 16,000 apps have been launched on TestDrive, giving customers the experience of running the app and discovering new features before committing to purchase. However, with the increasing use of 'free to play' business models, we have seen a significant decline in customers using TestDrive, and effective 15th April 2015, we will decommission the TestDrive service.

What do you need to do?

Nothing – it’s just the TestDrive service that is being decommissioned. Apps that are currently using TestDrive will still be available and promoted in the Appstore, but without TestDrive functionality. The TestDrive category will be removed from the Appstore client, and we will not be enabling TestDrive for new app submissions.

Thank you for your continued support of the Amazon Appstore. If you have any questions, please contact us.

The Amazon Mobile Ad Network increases monetization opportunities with the addition of the modeless interstitial ad format and the ability to serve ads to users in Japan.

High-Quality Modeless Interstitial Ads Improves User Experience

Amazon modeless interstitial ads are full screen ads. Unlike currently served interstitial ads, which appear during app transitions (in between game levels) and require users to close the ad, modeless interstitial ads appear as app content between content screens to maintain the app’s native experience for the user and do not require users to close the ad. You can customize modeless interstitial ads with content matching frames or transparent backgrounds. The seamless delivery of modeless interstitial ads can increase your user engagement and number of ads served.

Maximize Earning Potential Of Your Apps

You can earn more money from your apps and games now that the Amazon Mobile Ad Network is available to serve ads to your end users in Japan. The Amazon Mobile Ad Network lets you place high-quality display ads in your app, helping you gain access to relevant ads from brand advertisers, including Amazon and its subsidiaries. Monetize across supported countries (US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and now Japan), devices (iOS, Android, and Fire OS tablets and phones), and app stores (Amazon Appstore, Apple App Store, and Google Play). The Amazon Mobile Ad Network gives you the opportunity to earn more and pays you on ad impressions served.

The Amazon Mobile Ad Network Is Trusted By Thousands of Developers

A developer currently using the Amazon Mobile Ad Network shares his experience*:

“The Amazon Mobile Ad Network is by far our best performing ad network, and helped increase our earnings by 40%. With Amazon, we are getting excellent eCPM banners and high quality ads, providing a great experience for our users.”

- Pedro Da Ros, Founder & CEO of RottzGames

To Enable Support for Modeless Interstitial Ads and Japan

To take advantage of our expansion to Japan and our new modeless interstitial ad format, integrate the Amazon Mobile Ads API into your mobile app or game. Integrating the Amazon Mobile Ads API is easy:

New to the Amazon Mobile Ads API: Download the Amazon Mobile App SDK and integrate the latest version of the Amazon Mobile Ads API. Refer to the Android and iOS quick start guides for implementation details.

Already using the Amazon Mobile Ads API:

• Enabling Modeless Interstitial Ads: To enable modeless interstitial ads, recompile with the latest version of the Amazon Mobile Ads API. Modeless interstitial ads require a separate ad call. Refer to the Android and iOS quick start guides for implementation details.
• Serving Ads to Users in Japan: If your app or game already uses Android v5.1.236 (or later) or iOS v2.0.3 (or later) of the Amazon Mobile Ads API, you are all set for serving ads to users in Japan. If you are currently using an older version of the Amazon Mobile Ads API, simply recompile with the latest version. Ad requests you send will automatically be filled for the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, or Japan as appropriate.

Learn more about the Amazon Mobile Ads API on our Developer Portal here as well as through our blog post on tracking ad events inside your apps.

The Amazon Appstore launched on March 19, 2011 with 4,084 apps and games available for download on Android devices. We’ve come a long way in four years! We now have over 400,000 apps and games available globally, and the Amazon Appstore has never been available on a broader range of devices and platforms.  

The Amazon Appstore is integrated into Fire tablets, Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire phone devices, and pre-loaded on millions of Android devices globally including HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung phones as well as Samsung and LG tablets. The Amazon Appstore is also preloaded on BlackBerry 10 devices throughout the world, giving you access to even more customers. And the latest Amazon shopping app fully integrates apps and games into the shopping experience enjoyed by millions of customers. So when customers are searching for products in the Amazon shopping app, they’ll also discover relevant apps and games that they may also enjoy.

It’s no wonder 65% of the developers surveyed by IDC say that the Total Revenue achieved on the Fire tablet is similar to, or even better than, what they experience with other major platforms. Back in August, we announced that the Amazon Appstore is now available in 236 countries and territories, so publishing your Android app on Amazon means you reach customers from around the world.

Customers Are Getting the Gifts

Starting today and ending March 21^st, Amazon Appstore is offering an app bundle, with up to $105 in top paid apps – completely free! Customers will find critically acclaimed thriller Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 – currently one of the Top Paid Apps globally. Access the full list of apps and download the Amazon Appstore at amazon.com/androidapp.

As a reminder, Amazon Appstore is offering the chance to win a $25,000 shopping spree on Amazon.com. Customers simply need to download any free or paid app from the Amazon App on their Android phone and fill out an entry form between now and April 15, 2015. They will then be eligible for a chance to win the prize of $25,000 in Amazon.com Gift Cards. Find out more and enter for a chance to win at amazon.com/appstoresweeps.*

Ready to Submit Your App or Game?

• Click here to register for free as an Amazon Developer
• Click here to download the Amazon Mobile SDK. 
• Click here to submit your app

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or D.C., 18 or older. Sweepstakes ends April 15, 2015. Limit one entry per person and e-mail address. See Official Rules for details and alternate method of entry.

Did you miss the Twitch live stream of The 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards? We are excited to congratulate two games from the Amazon Appstore on their big wins! The D.I.C.E. Awards are the video game industry’s most prestigious honors recognizing outstanding contributions and achievements in gaming. Congratulations again to all of the nominees from the Amazon Appstore on this honor.

Winners from the Amazon Appstore

Monument Valley: Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

Publisher: ustwo Studio Ltd

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

Presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in designing a unified graphic look for an interactive title.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft: Mobile Game of the Year & Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment  

Mobile Game of the Year

The Mobile Game of the Year shall be the game developed for a mobile device platform such as a mobile phone, tablet or convergence device. These games demonstrate a skilled usage of the devices software and hardware features to offer a unique and addictive play experience

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

Strategy games are defined to be those titles in which the user directs or manipulates resources to create a set of conditions that result in success as determined within the confines of the game. These games can offer the user the chance to simulate or to virtually reproduce an experience, real or imaginary, which would require some form of equipment. Strategy games emphasize the planning of tactics rather than the execution.

The full list of winners can be found here.

Ready to Submit Your App or Game?

• Click here to register for free as an Amazon Developer. 
• Click here to download the Amazon Mobile SDK. 
• Click here to submit your app

Congratulations to the following games from the Amazon Appstore on their nominations for the 2015 D.I.C.E. Awards! The D.I.C.E. Awards recognize games, individuals and development teams for their contribution to the entertainment software industry. The apps below have been recognized for their outstanding achievements in gaming in 2014. The awards ceremony will be live streamed through Twitch on February 5^th, 2015 at 10pm ET. Tune in to see who takes home the biggest awards of the night!

You could be nominated next!

Shout out to the following games from the Amazon Appstore for their console franchise nominations at the 2015 D.I.C.E Awards.

Ready to Submit Your App or Game?

• Click here to register for free as an Amazon Developer. 
• Click here to download the Amazon Mobile SDK. 
• Click here to submit your app

According to a new report from Newzoo, gamers using the Amazon Appstore are the most likely to spend money.  More specifically, 64% of mobile gamers that use the Amazon Appstore spend money on mobile games, versus 37% for Google Play.

The report also digs into the profile of the mobile players versus mobile spenders.  According to the report, mobile games equally attract male and female players but when it comes to spending money, the demographic skews male.  The majority of big spenders on mobile are male and have kids, have a large income and more than a third play together with their children regularly, spending a large share of their gaming budget on their kids. 

CEO of Newzoo Peter Warman says:

“Game developers should consider shifting marketing resources towards the Amazon Appstore for two reasons: gamers using the Amazon Appstore are the most likely to spend money and Amazon is best at reaching the big spender, which is typically a family man with a full-time job.”

To download the full report, click here.

Ready to submit your game? 

• To learn more about the Amazon Appstore, click here
• Click here to register for free as an Amazon Developer. 
• Click here to download the Amazon Mobile SDK. 
• Click here to submit your app.

Vision Mobile recently shared a new chart showing a higher percentage of Amazon Fire developers above the app poverty line versus other platforms. More specifically, 59% of developers distributing their apps on the Amazon Appstore make more than $500 per month versus <50% on other platforms. The chart also showed that developers continue to experience increased monetization in the Appstore - Amazon had a bigger proportion of developers making $5,000+ a month compared to developers on other platforms. We’re excited to see developers like you expand their reach and monetize apps through the Amazon Appstore.

Today the Amazon Appstore is available on more than just Fire devices including the all-new Amazon Fire TV Stick. The Amazon Appstore for Android is also pre-loaded on BlackBerry 10 devices and carriers including O2, EE, Deutsche Telecom and others on millions of Android devices. This wide reach gives your app access to even more customers. Plus, the latest Amazon shopping app fully integrates apps and games into the shopping experience enjoyed by millions of customers. So when customers are searching for products in the Amazon shopping app, they’ll also discover relevant apps and games that they may also enjoy.  Here’s what some developers are saying about their experience with Amazon:

“When we compared our 2014 data, we noticed that ARPU on Amazon was 70% higher than on Android and 15% higher than on iOS”.                                                                          

– Elad Kushnir, VP of Business Development at Playtika

“The Average Revenue Per Download (ARPD) on Amazon is actually higher than on Android.”   

– Jean-Baptiste, CEO at DJIT

Check out the infographic below to learn more about where your apps will be available once you distribute them on the Amazon Appstore then get started and submit your apps here.

P.S. The holidays are the best time of the year to submit your apps. Read our latest blog post to learn more: Three Important Stats About Holiday Device Sales

In just over month, the holiday season officially kicks off. Connected devices like phones, tablets and streaming video set-top boxes continue to be popular gifts. And for app and game developers, this means a bonanza of downloads and new customers.

To help you get focused, we’ve compiled three stats that are important for mobile app developers:

1. App Purchases Surge by 50% Thanksgiving Week

The holiday season unofficially kicks off on Thanksgiving, and it’s also the unofficial kick-off to a very lucrative season for mobile app developers.  Maybe it’s the extra free time people have because of the holiday, or perhaps it’s treating themselves to new tablets and phones on Black Friday, but what we have seen is clear: customers purchase 50% more apps Thanksgiving week, than an average week the rest of the year. 

Put another way, you will get 50% more revenue in this one week than you would on any other average week this year. 

Submit your app now to make sure it’s available for Thanksgiving week.

2. Fire Tablets See a 24X “Bump” on Christmas Day

Thanksgiving week is a good start, but things really start to get interesting on Christmas day.  According to Flurry Analytics, Amazon sees a particularly large number of device activations on Christmas day—24 times the typical number for any other day in 2013.

This is a huge opportunity for Amazon Appstore developers.  The Amazon Appstore is preloaded on Fire tablets, Fire phone and Fire TV, so when the holiday “bump” happens, your apps and games will be ready to be discovered and downloaded by new customers. 

3. App Purchases Increase 400% During Digital Week

What is the single best week for app developers?  The aptly named “Digital Week” sees app purchases surge by 400% versus the next highest week.  Digital Week is the single biggest week of the year for app developers, and it’s easy to see why.  When customers unbox their new tablet or phone, what’s the first thing they do?  Start downloading apps and games of course! 

And just a reminder: The Amazon Appstore is available on more than just Fire devices. The Amazon Appstore is also pre-loaded on millions of Android devices and hundreds of thousands of Android customers have already downloaded the Appstore on their own. The Amazon Appstore is also preloaded on BlackBerry 10 devices throughout the world, giving you access to even more customers. And the latest Amazon shopping app fully integrates apps and games into the shopping experience enjoyed by millions of customers. So when customers are searching for products in the Amazon shopping app, they’ll also discover relevant apps and games that they may also enjoy.

Submit Your Apps Now to Maximize Your Holiday Bump

The Amazon Appstore has never been available on a broader range of devices and platforms.  Want to reach more customers during Digital Week?  Submit your app now to make sure it’s available for Thanksgiving week.

Click here to register for a Free Amazon Developer Account.  Click here to test your app and get feedback in 90 seconds or less.  Ready to submit?  Click here.

The Amazon Appstore will soon be available on more devices. Early yesterday, BlackBerry announced that the Amazon Appstore preloaded on BlackBerry 10 devices starting this fall.

What Does This Mean For Amazon Appstore Developers?

This is great news for Amazon Appstore developers. In addition to Fire phone, Kindle Fire tablets, Fire TV and Android devices, you’ll now have the opportunity to distribute your apps and games on BlackBerry 10 devices. This expanded reach gives you the opportunity to sell to more customers.

What Does This Mean for BlackBerry World Developers?

You don’t have to wait to migrate your app or game to the Amazon Appstore. Click here to give your app a test run now. Submitting your app to the Amazon Appstore is easy. Register for a developer account at no cost. If you have questions, see these FAQs.

IDC conducted an Amazon sponsored survey of 360 mobile application developers to understand their key motivators and gather feedback on their experience developing apps for the Kindle Fire platform versus Android and iOS. According to the survey, 65% of surveyed developers say that total revenue on Kindle Fire was similar or better than on other platforms. 76% of surveyed developers say that Amazon helps them connect to new customer segments.

To download the full report, click here.  

65% of Developers Say Total Revenue Similar or Better Than Other Platforms

IDC asked developers who currently build apps for the Kindle Fire to describe the return-on-investment profile of Kindle Fire and compare it to other platforms.

65% of the surveyed developers also say that the Total Revenue achieved on the Kindle Fire is similar to, or even better that, what they experience with other major platforms.  74% of the same developers say that Average Revenue per App/User is similar to or better than other platforms.

76% of Developers Say Amazon helps them Connect with New Segments

Finding new customers can be extremely difficult.  Developers who build apps for the Kindle Fire say:

The Kindle Fire platform can be a significant source of net new business and “reach” for developers at a time when new segments may be difficult to find on competing platforms.

Download the Report

To learn more, click here to download The Case for Developing Mobile Apps for the Amazon Appstore and Kindle Fire report prepared for Amazon by IDC.