Opportunities for hardware makers and software distribution makers with open source Oniro App Store
Opportunity for Oniro/OpenHarmony partners with open source Oniro App Store ecosystem
The open-source Oniro App Store repository allows vendors to fork and create their own branded app stores with aggregated app listings, APIs, and optional integration, while maintaining standalone developer portals and revenue-sharing models could strike a balance between centralization and decentralization. This approach would enable vendors to customize their app stores while still benefiting from a shared ecosystem. Here's how it could work and why it could be a viable solution:
Key Features of the Model
Open-Source Oniro App Store Repository:
Vendors can fork the repository to create their own branded app stores (e.g., Tencent App Store, Galaxy Store, Mi App Mall).
The forked app stores can customize the UI, backend, and branding to meet their specific needs.
Aggregated App Listings via APIs:
The central Oniro App Store acts as a metadata hub, providing APIs for fetching app listings, descriptions, versions, and compatibility information.
Forked app stores can pull this data to display the same app catalogue, ensuring consistency across the ecosystem.
Optional Integration:
Vendors can choose to integrate their app stores with the central Oniro App Store for aggregated listings, while maintaining their own standalone backend and developer portal.
This allows vendors to control their own revenue-sharing models, app submission processes, and user experience.
Standalone Developer Portals:
Vendors can operate their own developer portals where they manage app submissions, revenue sharing, and developer relationships.
For example:
Tencent App Store could offer a revenue-sharing model tailored to Chinese developers.
Galaxy Store could focus on Samsung-specific optimizations and integrations.
Mi App Mall could prioritize Xiaomi device compatibility.
V-AppStore for Vivo smartphones apps ecosystem.
AppGallery for Huawei’s commercial OpenHarmony-based HarmonyOS Next platform ecosystem.
Forked Oniro App Store Manifest (F-OH):
Vendors can use a standardized manifest (e.g., F-OH) to ensure compatibility with the central Oniro App Store ecosystem.
This manifest would define how the forked app store interacts with the central hub, including APIs for app listings, updates, and user authentication.
Custom UI and Backend:
Vendors can design their own UI and backend to differentiate their app stores and cater to specific user bases.
For example:
A mobile carrier's app store could include bloatware or carrier-specific apps.
A gaming-focused app store could feature curated game listings and exclusive content.
Benefits of This Model
Ecosystem Growth and Diversity:
By allowing vendors to create their own branded app stores, the Oniro ecosystem can attract a wide range of participants, from global tech giants to regional players.
This diversity would enrich the ecosystem and provide users with more choices.
Centralized Metadata, Decentralized Control:
Aggregated app listings ensure consistency and reduce fragmentation, while standalone developer portals and revenue-sharing models give vendors control over their operations.
Customization and Flexibility:
Vendors can tailor their app stores to meet specific needs, such as regional preferences, niche markets, or device-specific optimizations.
Lower Development Costs:
Vendors can leverage the open-source Oniro App Store codebase to reduce development costs, focusing instead on customization and branding.
User Choice:
Users can choose from multiple app stores, each offering a unique experience while still providing access to the same core app catalogue.
Developer Freedom:
Developers can publish their apps across multiple forked app stores, reaching a broader audience while benefiting from vendor-specific revenue-sharing models.
Security and Trust:
The central Oniro App Store can act as a trusted source for app metadata, ensuring that all forked stores distribute verified and secure apps.
Challenges and Considerations
Governance and Standards:
Clear guidelines and standards would be needed to ensure that forked app stores adhere to quality and security requirements.
A certification process or review system could help maintain trust in the ecosystem.
Revenue Sharing and Competition:
Vendors may compete with each other for developers and users, leading to potential conflicts over revenue-sharing models and app exclusivity.
A fair and transparent framework for a recommended revenue sharing option would be essential.
API Maintenance and Compatibility:
Maintaining and updating the OpenHarmony APIs for aggregated app listings and integration would require ongoing effort and resources.
Vendors would need to ensure compatibility with the central Oniro App Store ecosystem.
Branding and User Experience:
While customization is a benefit, it could also lead to inconsistencies in user experience across different app stores.
Vendors would need to balance customization with usability and accessibility following Harmony Design language of OpenHarmony with ArkUI JS/ArkTS.
Developer Onboarding:
Developers may find it challenging to navigate multiple developer portals and revenue-sharing models.
A centralized developer portal and unified documentation could simplify the process.
Real-World Analogies
Linux Distributions:
Different Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian) share a common kernel and software repositories but offer unique branding and features.
This model has proven successful in fostering a diverse and vibrant ecosystem.
Android App Stores:
Android allows multiple app stores (e.g., Google Play Store, Samsung Galaxy Store, Amazon Appstore) to coexist, each with its own branding and revenue-sharing models.
This approach has enabled Android to dominate the global smartphone market.
Steam and Epic Games Store:
Both platforms offer a centralized catalogue of games but compete on features, revenue-sharing models, and exclusivity deals.
This competition has driven innovation and growth in the gaming industry.
Conclusion
This model—where the open-source Oniro App Store repository allows vendors to fork and create their own branded app stores with aggregated app listings, open standard OpenHarmony and independent app dev controllable stack Open Mobile Hub APIs with, alongside optional Oniro App Store vendors integration, while maintaining standalone developer portals and revenue-sharing models—could effectively balance centralization and decentralization. It would enable vendors to customize their app stores while still benefiting from a shared ecosystem, fostering growth, diversity, and innovation. By addressing challenges such as governance, revenue sharing, and API maintenance, this approach could create a vibrant and sustainable app ecosystem for Oniro and OpenHarmony.