Vodacom has launched premium applications in its App Store, costing between R5 and R50 each. The cellular operator launched the store in September.

More than 5 000 premium apps have been added to the Vodacom App Store, the company says in a statement. It says more than 500 000 free apps have been downloaded from the store since launch.

One of the premium apps is Easy K53, a locally developed piece of software that is free until the end of December, after which it will cost R30. The app prepares people for their driver’s licence test. Other local apps include Expenza, which allows consumers to keep track of their expenses, and SMSreplier, which send automatic replies when a phone’s owner is driving.

Vodacom customers can use their prepaid or contract accounts to pay for apps, instead of other methods of payment like credit cards.

The store is powered by Appia and supports Android, Symbian, Java, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile platforms. Standard data rates apply when downloading apps. — Staff reporter, TechCentral