Seeing as LG is hoping to become 2nd in command in just a few years, we can’t have expected them to stop and watch the application store train pass them by. Although not creatively named, LG’s Application Store has been in the works for a while now but the company has recently announced that the store will go live beta on July 14th.

Initially the store will launch in Asia with service soon to be expanded to 24 countries around the world. LG wants to have 2,000 applications in its store by the end of 2009, 100 of which it expects to be free.

“As we’ve announced earlier, LG is planning to invest heavily in the smartphone market going forward, with ten smartphones being introduced this year alone” said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. Dr. Ahn even manages to sneak in a little jab at Apple, saying “It’s an added-value service that comes with LG’s high-end phone and smartphone ownership. And unlike other mobile phone online stores, LG’s intention is not to censor the type of applications that are available to our custmers but only to ensure that they meet the high standards for quality and compatibility.”

Developers also get access to the LG Developer Access Network, a website which LG uses to encouage developer activity on its platforms.

[Via MobileBurn]