Leading mobile phone manufacturers like Nokia, Apple and research in Motion will soon roll out application stores tailored for Indian markets.

After US and Europe, they feel India is the next big market for mobile applications.

Nokia has already launched its global applications store called Ovi Store in India which will roll out localized apps by the end of this year. At first, Ovi Store will only be available in smartphones with the Symbian S60 operating software; later, it will be available on all Nokia phones. This may be as early as 2010.

Among the applications plans, Nokia will introduce a location-based service (with GPS and cellphone tower support), music, entertainment, business and other utilities. It will work with local developers in developing these applications.

Research in Motion on the other hand is gearing to release its own apps store called ‘BlackBerry App world’ for their BlackBerry smartphone users in the country. Like Nokia, RIM is eyeing Indian developers to create such applications. Their applications will revolve around travel, connectivity, Instant Messaging and navigation.

Apple, which has the biggest app store in the world, will also roll out customized apps for the country from its App Store. Their App store currently has over 35,000 applications globally with more than 50,000 companies contributing to them.

Industry sources say Sony Ericsson will too roll out an app store in India.