Google used its third-quarter results announcement yesterday to dispel fears that the growing emergence of new app stores supporting Android may damage the flagship Android Market service and create confusion for users and software developers.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt claimed on a conference call that the goal of Android Market is to “make money for the people who are writing the software and the applications, and it’s not a revenue goal for Google.” He claimed that the launch of other stores is a “net win” for everybody and not a primary focus for Android.

Last month Verizon’s V Cast Apps store announced it was supporting Android. Since then Amazon is reported to be preparing the launch of its own apps store running over the Android platform, with US electronics retail giant Best Buy also considering a launch. Given Amazon’s reported efforts, an app store from rival Barnes & Noble (which offers the Android-powered Nook ereader) is not unlikely. There are also ‘independent’ stores such as GetJar and PocketGear that offer Android apps (as well as apps from other rival platforms).