The Verizon App Store will begin the process of shutting down for good starting in January 2013, US cellular carrier Verizon Wireless says, with plans to be fully off "all compatible Android and Research in Motion devices" by March 27, 2013. No specific reason is given for the closure, but Verizon does detail, "a whole new tech landscape" shaping its decision, and that the company is "evolving" strategy in accordance with said "new tech landscape." No doubt that the new landscape Verizon speaks of involves the dominance of Google's own Play store for Android, as well as RIM's BlackBerry App World.

If you're a developer worried about what's gonna happen to your app, the company says you'll retain all your app metrics, reporting, and payments throughout the closure. We're also reassured that the developer community's support won't be going away in the future, post-closure, with Verizon's David Sandberg telling Engadget, "The developer community -- that website and the folks who work with developers -- they'll still be there. We'll still be providing them with support." The closure also won't affect any employee positions, Sandberg says.