3 UK has followed the example of its larger peer – Vodafone UK – by launching a dedicated channel with a third-party app store, reports Mobile Europe. 3 UK has partnered with Nokia’s Ovi to provide a section on the store called ‘Three Likes,’ which will include a choice of 40 apps recommended by 3 and will be accessible to the operator’s customers using Nokia Symbian devices such as the Nokia C7, Nokia E7 and Nokia N8. The new Nokia X7 will be the first handset to be integrated with the latest version of Ovi Store at launch this week.

3 will recommend different apps every week with a focus on those that offer the latest in entertainment and gaming or those that deliver navigation aids or help customers save time and money. “By recommending apps that are relevant to our customers and allowing them to pay through their monthly phone bill, customers will have a better, easier and faster experience on the UK’s biggest 3G network,” said Charlotte Spencer, director of Products and Services at 3 UK.

Earlier this month, Vodafone become the first company in Europe to launch an “own brand” content channel in Android Market, which will offer customers “a regularly updated selection of Vodafone services as well as the best news, sport, information and gaming apps, all sourced from Vodafone’s global and local partnerships, often on an exclusive, free or discounted basis.” The channel is already live in the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, with launches planned for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.