Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said yesterday that it will open its online software and content store for smartphone applications on September 14 in Europe.

The company hopes to replicate the success of Apple’s App store with its own store that will start with more than 300 applications including games and social networking, and will go on to surpass 2,000 by the end of 2009.

To begin with, Samsung said it will launch its app store in the United Kingdom, France and Italy and will gradually tap over 30 countries including Germany and Spain.

The Application Store can be accessed via devices like Omnia, Omnia HD, and Omnia Pro, and users can use credit cards or carrier billing to pay for the programs.

Earlier in May, Finnish handset maker Nokia globally launched its Ovi store and LG Electronics Inc launched its own version of the online marketplace in Asia in July.