Google this week made available a developer preview of its Chrome Web Store, which enables access to Web applications.
Developers, according to software engineer Michael Goth on the Google Chromium Blog, can upload applications and experiment with packaging and installing them in Chrome using the latest Chrome developer channel. Payment and user authentication infrastructure are featured.
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"When the Chrome Web Store launches, it will replace the current gallery, featuring a completely new design for users to discover great apps, extensions and themes all in one place. Until then, only you can see the apps you upload -- they will not be visible to other visitors of the gallery during this developer preview. In the meantime, you can continue to use the gallery for publishing Chrome extensions and making them available to Chrome users," Noth said.
Applications listed in Chrome Web Store are regular Web technologies and can be used via other "modern" browsers besides Google’s Chrome browser, according to Google. Users accessing the store via Chrome, however, have the ability to build shortcuts for easy access to applications, Google said.
Chrome Web Store was introduced at the Google I/O conference in May as an "open" marketplace for Web applications. Applications can be either free or paid.
Google has said the Chrome Web Store would be available later this year.
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