Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has launched a Mac Software Download store to sell software for Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) Mac OS X operating system--pitting it squarely against Apple's own Mac App Store. The Mac App Store, which was introduced in January, saw over a million downloads on day one alone, according to The Register. Amazon says its service "features an install-less download process where the customer gets just the product without any unwanted extras, making for faster and easier purchases." To entice new users, Amazon is offering a $5 discount for purchases made with the code "SAVE5MAC," valid through June 1.

Will Amazon's offering stand a chance of gaining any traction? The answer is apparently yes, based on the appearance of applications that are not found on the Mac App Store. This includes the likes of QuickBooks and Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Office for Mac, as well as game titles such as BioShock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. In Amazon's favor perhaps is the fact that Apple's store does not take on every product--they must meet a set of restrictions and gain Apple's final approval. Also, the 30 percent cut taken on all revenue generated on the Mac App Store may be another strong deterrent for pricier applications.

On the downside, Amazon's service does not provide an update mechanism for downloaded software, though buyers are able to re-download purchased applications without any restrictions.

For more:
- check out this article at AppleInsider
- check out this article at Computerworld
- check out this article at The Register

Related Articles:
Apple eyeing a cut of Amazon, Sony eBook sales
Security loopholes surface on Mac App Store
iPhone App Store downloads surpass 2-billion mark