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App store GetJar plans to “aggressively expand” its software for Android devices with at least part of a new $25 million funding round.
GetJar, which started its app shop in 2005, touts itself as the world’s largest open app store and the second largest app store behind Apple’s. GetJar boasts more than 1.5 billion downloads to date for multiple mobile platforms, including iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian.
Screenshot by CNET
With the new capital, GetJar said it plans to expand its sales, marketing and engineering efforts. The company is eyeing the Android arena in particular and aims to become the leading alternative to the Android Market.
GetJar’s Android push comes as Google has revamped its Android Market to offer Web-based downloads and as Amazon plans to launch its own Android app store.
Over the past year, San Mateo, Calif.-based GetJar has struck partnerships with such mobile players as Yahoo, Sprint, AT&T, Zynga, and Angry Birds developer Rovio. GetJar said it’s been able to triple its staff and beef up its European operations.
The $25 million Series C round was led by Tiger Global Management. Accel Partners, which provided GetJar’s Series A and B rounds, also joined in. This rounds follows one from last summer that raised $11 million.
“GetJar has the rare combination of a differentiated, cross platform app store solution coupled with a unique revenue model,” Lee Fixel, managing director at Tiger Global Management, said today in a statement.
Although GetJar can’t provide iOS-based apps directly, the site does display iPhone apps with links for people to download them from Apple’s App Store.
