GetJar's library of 45,000-plus free applications will soon be linked directly through Sony Ericsson's PlayNow arena, its mobile applications store.

GetJar's long-tail class of applications will complement a series of premium apps from Sony Ericsson in the PlayNow arena. Additionally, GetJar's upload infrastructure will be used by Sony Ericsson to make the submission process for new applications easy for developers.

"The missing component for Sony Ericsson was an app store, so we're partnering with them for PlayNow arena," said Patrick Mork, London-based vice president of marketing for GetJar.

"It's a smart move for Sony Ericsson, because it allows them to stay focused on their expertise and core business, which is handset manufacturing and promoting their phones," he said.

Sony Ericsson, with operations in more than 80 countries, had sales of around 97 million mobile phones last year.

GetJar has been providing mobile applications to consumers since 2005 and now receives more than 1 million downloads a day across more than 200 countries, with a total exceeding 450 million downloads to date.

The company has 200,000-plus developer accounts and has been delivering millions of downloads for leading applications developers and content owners such as Google, YouTube, Facebook, Nimbuzz and eBuddy.

GetJar provides an open and free environment for application developers and consumers, with its catalogue of free applications available for anyone with a Java, Symbian, Windows Mobile, iPhone, Palm, BlackBerry or Flash Lite-compatible phone.

Through the partnership, GetJar will provide a platform that will give Sony Ericsson's millions of customers access to a broad range of free applications available for its handsets worldwide.

This is the next expansion of the PlayNow content and service platform, following the announcement of PlayNow arena Movies on May 28.

PlayNow arena offers consumers a fully integrated content marketplace for their Sony Ericsson phones and gives third-party developers access to an established mobile content market channel for their content.

Applications will be offered in the 13 countries that currently support PlayNow arena.

The service platform, which is compatible with 38 Sony Ericsson phone models, will roll out to further markets and models over the course of this year.

Featuring the music, ringtones, games, themes, wallpapers, movies and now applications, the PlayNow arena builds on Sony Ericsson's experience of selling mobile applications and content through Fun & Downloads, the Sony Ericsson online content service established in 2003, which is available in 69 countries.

Sony Ericsson achieved more than 150 million downloads last year.

Fun & Downloads will continue to offer premium and free content to Sony Ericsson consumers while PlayNow arena is being rolled out to additional markets.

Both content services offer billing services including SMS transactions, credit card payments and carrier billing.

To ensure a wide application offering, Sony Ericsson will collaborate with GetJar and provide a one-click access from PlayNow arena to their market channel.

Sony Ericsson will start accepting application submissions as of July 1, allowing developers to submit mobile applications to the PlayNow arena and Fun & Downloads. There will be no fees for either service.
Initially, it will be open for Java ME and Nokia's Symbian applications and later this year will

The new Sony Ericsson application submission site at http://www.submit.sonyericsson.com opens on July 1.

"We've built their back-end submission process based on our experience working with developers over the years," Mr. Mork said.