India’s homegrown Android app marketplace Indus Appstore has signed a partnership with Motorola to have the store pre-installed on all Motorola devices sold in India.
Under this agreement, new Motorola smartphones and tablets will ship with Indus Appstore available out-of-the-box — giving users an alternative app marketplace tailored for Indian preferences, languages, and developers.
Why This Partnership Matters
• Localised App Discovery & Language Support
Indus Appstore offers support in English plus 12 Indian languages and includes features such as AI-powered voice search and video previews to help users discover apps in a culturally relevant way
• Push for Indian App Ecosystem & Developer Support
By pre-installing a domestic app store, Motorola and Indus signal support for Indian developers and aim to reduce dependence on a single global app marketplace.
• More Choice for Smartphone Users
For Motorola users in India, this means an additional option for downloading apps — potentially improving app availability, regional content, and diversity of offerings. Gadgets 360
Background: Indus Appstore’s Expansion
Indus Appstore — launched by PhonePe in 2024 — is already pre-installed on several device brands in India, such as Xiaomi and Lava.
With Motorola joining the list, the reach of the app store expands further — potentially bringing the “Made-for-India” app ecosystem to a broader set of smartphone users across the country.
What to Watch: Implications & Outlook
- For users: Pre-install may mean easier access to Indian-language apps, local content, and a more region-tailored app-discovery experience.
- For developers: Wider device reach could help Indian app makers gain visibility without depending solely on global app stores.
- For competitors: This move might push other smartphone makers to consider similar local-app-store partnerships to appeal to India’s diverse market.
- For app ecosystem: Growth of domestic platforms could increase competition, giving users and developers more choices and possibly better terms.
