VDCC2011: Verizon Drops V CAST Apps, Launches Verizon Apps with Chomp Search Integration

This morning during the launch keynote for VDCC2011,Verizon has officially announced a complete rebuilding of its app store for Android smartphone applications, which will now be branded as Verizon Apps and retires the V CAST branding. Along with the rebrand, the new Verizon Apps portal places the focus on the discoverability of applications to solve one of the biggest issues confronting both indie and major developers, that of exposure. By integrating Chomp’s search technology into the new store Verizon hopes to improve application search for developers, publishers and consumers.

Verizon initially offered Chomp’s search technology in May as a dedicated app that allows customers to simultaneously search both the Verizon Apps store and Android Market simultaneously to find a particular application. At the continue reading link, quotes from Verizon Director of Consumer Solutions Todd Murphy and Chomp CEO/co-founder Ben Keighran on the announcement and general availability details for the new app store.

Todd Murphy:
“As the number of apps has exploded, app discovery can be a challenge for mobile users. Customers who use Verizon Apps store want to find the apps they want easily and quickly, and by integrating Chomp’s search engine, we’re enhancing that experience.”

Ben Keighran
“Verizon undertook a rigorous app search evaluation process,” said Ben Keighran, co-founder and chief executive officer of Chomp. “Like us, they realize that app search is completely different from Web search. It’s an incredibly difficult problem to solve, but Chomp has addressed it through years of development and millions of downloads. Our approach to app search perfectly matches Verizon’s demands for an industry-best app store experience.”

The revamped Verizon Apps store will launch later this Fall on the next wave of Android devices with more specific details to be given in the future.