> Correct me if I'm wrong, but did not Apple create the first app store...

Steam, at least, has it beat, in 2005: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag_Doll_Kung_Fu

I'm fairly certain there were apps available for purchase on Nokia and other phones well before that, as well.

App Store didn't come until 2008.

The revenue model was very different for Nokia software, carriers were involved and revenue distribution was somewhat byzantine, if i remember correctly. One of the reasons developers jumped on the AppStore was that it simplified things pretty dramatically from the previous status-quo: they only had to deal with Apple. One of the reasons Nokia struggled to relaunch was that they couldn’t wiggle themselves out of these relationships with carriers, this albatross around their neck. In that sense, the AppStore was undoubtedly a step forward. That doesn’t mean it’s an eternally-perfect solution.

Like in many other issues involving Apple, what looked like a positive change in immediately-pragmatic terms ended up being a faustian bargain in the long run. Maybe we should just discuss this in terms of “10+ years have passed, things have changed, what was good before might be bad today”. Stuff like the single non-negotiable browser engine was a curiosity and a small impediment 13 years ago, but now it’s a real threat to the health of the web ecosystem. Same for the single-appstore model, which effectively enables a rent-seeking cartel (Apple and Google) which any serious antitrust scholar should find abhorrent.

The list of companies: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Google, and more

Include many (hint - the first 3) that were taking huge chunks of game publishers' money long before the iOS App Store ever existed. There were also many app stores for palmOS, WinCE, etc. some of which collected far more than 30%.

There was ClubNokia where you could pay by SMS for ringtones and on certain phones - games. Many 3rd s60 app stores were just credit card collection places and malware distribution centers. None of the stores were preloaded on the phone.

Steam probably had first "app store", but it has to be installed separately and usually you don't have to use it for the most part - you often could buy it online directly from the publisher or on CD/DVD.

PS Store launched in 2006. That's closest to what Apple did. Actually, exactly the same for most part until Apple added in-app, subscriptions etc. Difference was that to get listed on App Store you just had to pay $100 and make application that follows guidelines.

Here is where there are lot differences:

- Legally you can't sell any software for PlayStation without Sony getting a cut. - That includes physical media - Steam can only get it cut from sales on its store - Publishers/developers can either sell directly to you without anyone getting a cut - Or they can sell you a steam code and then steam doesn't get a cut

This is why I'm saying that Apple is closer to Sony than Steam.

I don't know where 30% cut came from, but I know steam has the same cut.

There were (a few, not just one) app stores on Palm OS devices too. I forget the year and I don't know what the cut was.

I vaguely remember that when Steam launched and started charging 30%, it was way less than what retail charges.

The Wii Shop Channel predates it by a few years.

There were app stores for feature phones where you could download J2ME apps way before the iPhone came out. Sprint ran one.