Facebook released its new App Center for most US users today.  It may look a lot like the Apple Store and Google Play, but in reality it serves a different function. The app center is,  instead, more of a showcase of apps.  The App Center will refer users to other app stores where they can buy the app itself, but it will still be interfaced with the Facebook login and other social features.

For instance, if you wanted the app Mixcloud, you would click on the tab for Mixcloud, and then be asked whether you want to be directed to the website or have the application sent to your mobile phone.  The App Center also allows for developers to build apps on Facebook that will use the Facebook Login, regardless of whether it is an iOS, Andriod, or web app.   These apps have their own special page within Facebook where they can load; for example, Cityville and Farmville.

Developers are also going to be allowed to charge for “first time apps” being built on Facebook, but it is not clear if these purchases will be made directly from the App Center. Facebook has announced that the App Center traffic has already “produced better than average revenue per use of its games.” The main goal of the App Center is to grow mobile apps that use Facebook no matter what platform it is being accessed on.

Facebook is making a huge leap. You no longer need to leave Facebook to find the apps that you are looking for. Upon clicking on the App Center, you are given a suggestions tab of apps that you may be interested in using  and a tab that shows the current apps that your friends on Facebook are using. Not only is there an advantage of time spent on Facebook, but the company is profiting 30 percent of purchases made with Facebook credits used to purchase apps.  The incentive for the app developers is the advantage of reaching Facebooks 900 million users.

Jenna Coulson is a Community Manager at Response