With the Amazon App Store finally debuting to the public yesterday, there was one group of users who got left out in the cold: AT&T Android users. At the current time, AT&T Android devices do not permit loading unofficial .APK files. So unless you either install a custom ROM that gives you privileges or side-load apps with an unofficial side-loader, there is no other way to get around the restriction placed by AT&T. Amazon is currently working with AT&T to solve this issue, but until then, Amazon encourages AT&T users to head over to the AT&T Amazon App Store Access page to show your interest and be notified when access is live. It seems in light of this unforeseen issue, Amazon has posted Angry Birds Rio for free indefinitely until the issue is resolved to give AT&T users a fair shot at a free download of the game.
It’s a total shame to see AT&T being a total kill-joy to this party when many other providers have given Android users free reign on who they choose to spend their cash on and for what apps they may purchase. I personally hope AT&T expedites things and gives their subscribers an opportunity to shop with Amazon’s App Store.