SoftBank is hoping to make money from apps but it is risky as it is not clear whether anyone will develop any for it "said Prof Sharkey, from the University of Sheffield. There will be 100 apps available for download at launch. The robots will be manufactured by FoxConn. Chiness online retailer Alibaba is also partnering. Both are investing $ 118 m in SoftBank's robotic division and will take 20 % shares in the company. No date has yet been set for when Pepper will go on sale outside of Japan,but Softbank chief Masayoshi Son said it would probably happen next year .