Amazon launched its Appstore in China, offering paid and free Android apps, according to Reuters.

Amazon China spokesman Billy Huang said the portal went live over the weekend, and that the company is working with developers to bring more titles to the storefront.

The move will see developers provided with a new way to distribute paid apps in the world’s largest smartphone market. Google Play currently only offers free apps in China.

Hundreds of local app stores operate in the country, some of which are sources of pirated apps that have made many users concerned about malware. The arrival of a company with the reputation of Amazon could therefore be a boon for users.

The launch of Amazon Appstore in China could pave the way for the launch of a range of devices including the Kindle e-reader and Kindle Fire tablet.

Amazon announced last month that it intended to bring its Appstore to nearly 200 countries after it was initially launched in the US before coming to the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Japan.

“Allowing developers to target distribution of their apps and games in even more international countries is yet another important milestone as we strive to serve consumers and developers globally,” Mike George, Amazon VP of Apps and Games said at the time.