Following the successful exemplar set by Apple’s App store, telecom equipment maker Ericsson has launched its own hosted app store, targeting the mobile operators.

This App store format, which is believed to offer an application-delivery framework akin to the App store, differs in terms of its reach. Ericsson’s store will be able to launch apps for a variety of mobile handsets and gadgets, unlike the Apple store that can be used for applications only for the iPhone and the iPods.

In addition, the company said the store can tackle nearly every aspect of the application-delivery infrastructure including the billing process, or setting up the developer community by managing the carrier''s application programming interfaces.

In the days to come, Ericsson plans to extend the App store to entry level phones as well.

Besides Ericsson and Apple, others like Vodafone and Qualcomm have also launched their app stores earlier in the year.