Facebook gets into the Mobile App Game with App Center

Facebook jumped into the app store game on Friday with the launch of its new App Center. The service offers what the company called social apps for Web browsers and mobile devices, including Apple’s iPhone and iPad.

“The App Center features mobile and web apps, such as Draw Something, Pinterest, and Nike+ GPS, and new apps including Jetpack Joyride, Ghosts of Mistwood, and Ghost Recon Commander,” said Facebook’s Matt Wyndowe.

Facebook's App Center goes liveFacebook’s App Center goes live

App Center feeds users what Facebook calls personalized recommendations and lets you see which apps friends have installed. The feature is rolling out first to U.S. users in the Facebook apps for the iPhone and iPad, as well as Android, and through the Facebook website. The company is activating the feature for users in waves, so it isn’t currently available to all U.S. Facebook subscribers.

The move puts Facebook in competition — at least to a degree — with Apple’s App Store and Google Play, although selecting any app that requires a download, meaning something that isn’t a Web-based app, redirects users to Apple or Google’s own app stores.

Facebook said it is launching its App Center with 600 apps, and will be adding more soon.