Early last month Facebook announced the App Center which, unsurprisingly, mirrors various other app hubs out there by allowing users to find and download apps. At the time, Facebook said that the App Center would launch on the Web, iOS, and Android sometime in the next few weeks.
According to a source quoted by Business Insider, that time has come. The App Center will reportedly drop in the next couple of days – even as soon as today or tomorrow.
Facebook’s App Center is pretty simple, but could be a huge step in courting developers to utilize their platform in their apps. Unlike the current way apps are displayed on Facebook (residing on a regular page), the App Center will allow apps to impress users right out of the gate with a full detail page.
Not only that, but Facebook’s App Center will reward quality. Developers will rely on user ratings and engagement to ultimately determine how successful their app performs. “Well-designed apps that people enjoy will be prominently displayed. Apps that receive poor user ratings or don’t meet the quality guidelines won’t be listed,” says Facebook.
To be listed in Facebook’s App Center, your app needs to use Facebook Login. Facebook later detailed that the App Center would not host mobile apps, but rather point users in the right direction with links to the app’s iTunes of Google Play page.
For more general guidelines for developers, you can check out our previous article on the topic.
Another first about the App Center is that Facebook will give developers the option to offer paid apps on the App Center. Unlike in-app purchases, this will let users charge an up-front, flat fee to to the app on Facebook.
This is obviously at rumor level, but it shouldn’t shock anyone if the App Center launches soon – the announcement is nearly a month old. Business Insider points to a “Apps and Drinks” press event that Facebook is throwing on Thursday as a possible timeframe for the big reveal.