MiKandi
Encyclopedia
MiKandi is an online adult software store launched on November 29, 2009 and developed by MiKandi, a Seattle-based company, for Android devices. MiKandi is the world's first mobile porn
app
store for a mobile device. The store seeks to get around restrictions placed on adult content by Apple Inc. for its iPhone
and Google
's Android Market by releasing the third party application store on Google Android’s open source operating system. ZDNet
's Jason Perlow suggested that adult content from stores such as MiKandi could be the driving force behind sales of Android phones. On December 9, 2009 MiKandi reported that the market had been downloaded over 80,000 times onto Android devices since their November 29, 2009 launch. MiKandi is currently only available for the Android operating system, although it is being developed for use on Windows Mobile
and BlackBerry
. MiKandi applications are aimed at an adult demographic and contain explicit adult content. Criticisms leveled at MiKandi include its lack of content and its lack of availability on other types of phones. The company attributes its lack of content to the infancy of the adult mobile app market.
, Jennifer McEwen, a co-founder of MiKandi, noted that all applications would be accepted as long as they were legal. Although MiKandi has the potential to have high quality adult applications, many early applications have been criticized as simply packages of pictures and short videos.
Since their launch, prominent adult brands have launched official uncensored applications in the app market. On November 23, 2010, Gamelink, a subsidiary of Private Media Group
, launched its official application in the MiKandi App Market. Early adopter, Pink Visual
, launched their first application in March 2010, followed by a second application, iTouch Her, in January 2011. Online sex and swinger personals community website Adult FriendFinder
also released an official application in the market in February 2011.
On March 24, 2011, the controversial application iBoobs was released in the MiKandi App Market. Infamously banned from the Apple App Store in 2008, the full uncensored application was briefly distributed in the Android Market
before it was removed in 2011. Although the free, censored version of the app is still available in the Android Market
, the developers of the application reported that AdMob
had stopped serving ads to the ad-supported application.
noted that a “porn store” existed on Android — referring to MiKandi without using its name. MiKandi reports that the app market was downloaded approximately 10,000 times in 12 hours after Jobs’ statement.
MiKandi received a cease-and-desist request from Apple in March 2011 for the market’s use of the term ‘app store’. MiKandi has since changed all terms on its websites and mobile client to read ‘app market’ and now bills itself as “The World’s First App Market for Adults.” Co-founder and president Jesse Adams suggests that the company may support Microsoft
’s challenge to Apple’s trademark
. Says Adams, “It’s not worth it for us to fight Apple’s legal team over this by ourselves. Maybe we can file an amicus brief to Microsoft’s case.”
, MiKandi Gold. During this time, MiKandi released a new product called MiKandi Theater which can be accessed in the app market. The new design also indicates that the app market will allow customers to earn virtual currency by completing an offer wall.
On March 28, 2011 MiKandi released full in-app billing support to Android developers two days before Google Android, support that has long been anticipated in the Android developer community.
Mobile porn
Mobile porn also known as mobile adult content, mobile erotica or cellphone adult content, is pornography distributed over mobile telecommunications networks for consumption on mobile devices; mainly mobile phones and smartphones....
app
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
store for a mobile device. The store seeks to get around restrictions placed on adult content by Apple Inc. for its iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
's Android Market by releasing the third party application store on Google Android’s open source operating system. ZDNet
ZDNet
ZDNet is a business technology news website published by CBS Interactive, along with TechRepublic and SmartPlanet. The brand was founded on April 1, 1991 as a general interest technology portal from Ziff Davis and evolved into an enterprise IT-focused online publication owned by CNET...
's Jason Perlow suggested that adult content from stores such as MiKandi could be the driving force behind sales of Android phones. On December 9, 2009 MiKandi reported that the market had been downloaded over 80,000 times onto Android devices since their November 29, 2009 launch. MiKandi is currently only available for the Android operating system, although it is being developed for use on Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
and BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
. MiKandi applications are aimed at an adult demographic and contain explicit adult content. Criticisms leveled at MiKandi include its lack of content and its lack of availability on other types of phones. The company attributes its lack of content to the infancy of the adult mobile app market.
Applications
In an interview with Northwest Cable NewsNorthwest Cable News
Northwest Cable News is a regional 24-hour cable news network based in Seattle, Washington, U.S. It is similar to New England Cable News, which operates out of Boston and covers the New England area....
, Jennifer McEwen, a co-founder of MiKandi, noted that all applications would be accepted as long as they were legal. Although MiKandi has the potential to have high quality adult applications, many early applications have been criticized as simply packages of pictures and short videos.
Since their launch, prominent adult brands have launched official uncensored applications in the app market. On November 23, 2010, Gamelink, a subsidiary of Private Media Group
Private Media Group
Private Media Group, Inc. is a production and distribution company that distributes adult entertainment via print publications, DVDs, the internet, and mobile....
, launched its official application in the MiKandi App Market. Early adopter, Pink Visual
Pink Visual
Pink Visual, based in Van Nuys, California, USA, is a reality and gonzo pornography film production company. It began as an Internet pornography provider before eventually moving into DVD production. Pink Visual also licenses adult content to cable, satellite, pay-per-view, hotel chain channels,...
, launched their first application in March 2010, followed by a second application, iTouch Her, in January 2011. Online sex and swinger personals community website Adult FriendFinder
Adult FriendFinder
Adult FriendFinder is an online sex and swinger personals community website. It allows members to meet new friends or sex partners.The site was founded by Andrew Conru. It claims to have over 30 million members...
also released an official application in the market in February 2011.
On March 24, 2011, the controversial application iBoobs was released in the MiKandi App Market. Infamously banned from the Apple App Store in 2008, the full uncensored application was briefly distributed in the Android Market
Android Market
Android Market is an online software store developed by Google for Android OS devices. Its gateway is an application program called "Market", preinstalled on most Android devices, allows users to browse and download mobile apps published by third-party developers...
before it was removed in 2011. Although the free, censored version of the app is still available in the Android Market
Android Market
Android Market is an online software store developed by Google for Android OS devices. Its gateway is an application program called "Market", preinstalled on most Android devices, allows users to browse and download mobile apps published by third-party developers...
, the developers of the application reported that AdMob
AdMob
AdMob is a mobile advertising company founded by Omar Hamoui. The name AdMob is a portmanteau for "advertising on mobile". It was incorporated in 2006 and is based in San Mateo, California. In November 2009 it was acquired by Google for $750 million. The acquisition was completed on May 27, 2010....
had stopped serving ads to the ad-supported application.
Apple Controversy
During a 2010 iPhone 4.0 OS event, the company was pushed in the spotlight when Apple’s CEO Steve JobsSteve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
noted that a “porn store” existed on Android — referring to MiKandi without using its name. MiKandi reports that the app market was downloaded approximately 10,000 times in 12 hours after Jobs’ statement.
MiKandi received a cease-and-desist request from Apple in March 2011 for the market’s use of the term ‘app store’. MiKandi has since changed all terms on its websites and mobile client to read ‘app market’ and now bills itself as “The World’s First App Market for Adults.” Co-founder and president Jesse Adams suggests that the company may support Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
’s challenge to Apple’s trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
. Says Adams, “It’s not worth it for us to fight Apple’s legal team over this by ourselves. Maybe we can file an amicus brief to Microsoft’s case.”
Market Updates and Product Launches
MiKandi launched a number of updates to the app store in 2010. The most notable update was on Thanksgiving Day 2010, in which the app store released a complete design overhaul, and introduced paid app support using the app market’s own virtual currencyVirtual currency
Virtual currency is used to purchase virtual goods within a variety of online communities; which include social networking websites, virtual worlds and online gaming sites....
, MiKandi Gold. During this time, MiKandi released a new product called MiKandi Theater which can be accessed in the app market. The new design also indicates that the app market will allow customers to earn virtual currency by completing an offer wall.
On March 28, 2011 MiKandi released full in-app billing support to Android developers two days before Google Android, support that has long been anticipated in the Android developer community.