The launch of Apple iPhone brings the success of App Store application platform, which turns the structure of mobile software industry as well as creating a brand new application business model. It changes not only environment of mobile industry and supply chains, but also the using behaviors of mobile phone users. This research applies wildscale biobligraphy analysis, case study and Delphi method, trying to analyze the market status, business model of application platform. Using 2-phase interviews with smart phone users, developers, and operator, and SWOT and Porter¡¦s Five Force Analysis model to study the business model and strategies for operator¡¦s application platform. The research discovers that telecommunication operator has serveral advantages, such as holding huge user base and payment safety; however, economic scope and service efficiency is the key to the success. Operator should use its strengths and cope with the changing user behavior to create more added value.

Smartphones med Android som operativsystem har under de senaste åren blivit en allt större del av vår vardag. Kandidatarbetet undersöker vilken försäljningsmetod man som utvecklare ska använda sig av för att få största möjliga förtjänst, när man säljer ett spel på Androids marknad. De försäljningsmetoder, som studerats, är reklam, prissatt och in app billing. Från insamlad statistik av Google och enkäter har en förståelse kring vilken metod att föredra tagits fram. Resultaten visar att alla fungerar trots deras olikheter sinsemellan. Förslag på hur en blandning av försäljningsmetoderna kan användas och hur man applicerar rätt metod till rätt spel diskuteras och presenteras.

The main subject of this diploma thesis is the mobile digital distribution market. The first chapter defines important terms and describes the area comprehensively. The second chapter lists examples of some platforms, shows statistical data and introduces common business models. The third chapter compares the Apple App Store and Google Play based on selected criteria. The fourth chapter deals with conducted survey data in order to test the hypothesis that czech consumers in general do not show a difference in attitude towards mobile distribution storefronts compared to their foreign peers. The fifth and last chapter tries to analyze technical backgrounds of varying content availability across different countries. Also, it deals with selected legal issues.

行動上網時代來臨，隨著連網技術成熟與裝置快速普及，微型應用程式（application，簡稱app）的應用應運而生，線上軟體平台產業快速成形，集廣大外部開發者之力共同創造價值與利潤。 激烈的平台競爭與初步的產業發展成果突顯出，面向多方參與者的平台對外部開發者守門的重要性，平台經營者如何在敞開大門的同時又能取得好的創意，背後應該有可供解釋的理由與作為。因此，本研究結合過去研究未有交集的多邊平台與守門理論兩觀點，期盼藉由研究成果回答三點研究問題：（1）線上軟體平台如何對外部開發者進行守門？（2）線上軟體平台之守門機制隨平台發展歷程有何變化？（3）線上軟體平台之守門機制對平台之經營績效有何影響？ 本研究所得到的初步結論：（1）線上軟體平台在開放與透過一系列「規範中有服務」的措施組成對外部開發者的守門機制，分為「價值獲取型」守門機制與「價值創造型」守門機制兩類。（2）線上軟體平台守門機制在「導入期」與「成長期」是處於「開放中有封閉，封閉中有開放」的狀態，價值獲取型守門機制從導入期至成長期是封閉趨向開放，價值創造型守門機制從導入期至成長期是開放趨向封閉。（3）線上軟體平台非獲利中心，而是生態系統的一控制點。 / Internet infrastructure and technology have advanced, we have now entered the Mobile Internet Device era. Online marketplaces form and applications sprout, stimulating an ecosystem worthy enough for external developers to dive in, grabbing the value in this co-creating process. However, managing the online marketplace is difficult. Developing a place to encourage participation for external developers as well as to gate keeping the platform quality is not an easy task. Up to this day, we can observe different online marketplaces develop different approaches. This research combines the prospective from multi-sided platforms theory and gatekeeping theory in view to answer three questions: (1) What is the gatekeeping strategy for online marketplaces? (2) As online marketplaces develop, how does the gatekeeping process change? (3) What influence does gatekeeping strategy has on online marketplaces performance? This study has found: (1) Two different strategies multi-sided platforms use for gatekeeping forming regulation and services for external developers are “Value Proposition” and “Value Creation”. (2) From the “early stage” to the “developing stage” of multi-sided platforms, this research discovers two different movements on gatekeeping: “From Opened to Restricting” and “From Restricting to Opened”. “Value Proposition” strategy leans toward “From Restricting to Opened” state, while “Value Creation” strategy leans toward “From Opened to Restricting” state.(3) Multi-sided platform is not a place to generate interests, but a place to manage the ecosystem.