Google announced the availability of its Chrome Web Store yesterday, which is an online store boasting a plethora of apps and games for Google’s Chrome web browser.

 

Developers have already started uploading their (free and paid) apps, with a great deal more sure to follow. The company stated that the store is only available in the US now, but will expand to many countries and currencies early in 2011, although local users are able to get and install free apps already.

 

The search giant also revealed that it’s still hard at work on its Chrome operating system (OS) for the web, which it unveiled last year. “Chrome OS is at the stage where we need feedback from real users,” a blogpost by Linus Upson, VP of engineering and Sundar Pichai, VP product management read.

 

“Some of the features of Chrome OS require new hardware, but we didn’t want to sell pre-beta computers. Instead we’re launching a pilot program where we will give test notebooks to qualified users, developers, schools and businesses. We’re starting with the U.S. and will expand to other countries once we get the necessary certifications.”

 

Within the first half of 2011 Chrome notebooks will become available for sale from Acer as well as Samsung, with more manufacturers following thereafter. Google’s Chrome browser is gaining usage ground on its competition like Internet Explorer and Firefox. The company has revealed that during 2010, the number of users employing Chrome has tripled from 40 to 120 million.