Adobe shutters app stores InMarket and AIR Marketplace

Adobe Systems is shutting down its InMarket and AIR Marketplace application portals, stating it will shift its efforts to helping developers author and publish their applications across multiple platforms including Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS. Adobe said it made the decision to halt support for InMarket and AIR Marketplace based on internal review findings as well as developer feedback.

Adobe introduced InMarket last October, touting a centralized application distribution portal enabling developers to market Flash-based software across different device types via app stores from Intel, Acer and other retail partners. Developers received 70 percent of sales revenues, with Adobe and its partners handling all credit card processing, hosting and marketing responsibilities. The InMarket launch coincided with expanded support for the Adobe AIR 2.5 runtime across smartphones and tablets running iOS, Android and BlackBerry Tablet OS.

Beginning immediately, Adobe will no longer accept InMarket app submissions, adding that developers will be unable to log in after Aug. 31, 2011. Programmers who've published apps via Intel AppUp center can expect to receive AppUp log-in credentials sometime during the next several weeks, and may manage their apps and view performance there moving forward.

Adobe AIR Marketplace will wind down in conjunction with InMarket. Adobe explains that when it opened AIR Marketplace three years ago, AIR developers had few channels to distribute their applications. The company urges developers to turn to storefronts like Apple's App Store, Android Market, BlackBerry App World and Samsung Apps for their distribution needs.

For more:
- read this Adobe Developer Connection FAQ

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