Windows Marketplace for Mobile: First Look
Microsoft launched its new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system this week at the CTIA Wireless conference (see all stories) in San Diego. The OS includes a refreshed Internet Explorer Mobile, the new My Phone media sync and share service, and a brand new app store called, unceremoniously, Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
Microsoft may be the last major smartphone platform to get its application storefront, but to its credit, the app store is full-fledged, not in beta like Palm's App Catalog on Pre. Unlike Blackberry App World's use of PayPal at launch, there's a flexible payment system; you're not tied down to a single financial channel. And while the Marketplace may not be the sexiest design around, all the elements are here. All it lacks now is critical mass.
In this First Look video, we walk you through the app store, from search filters to a limited return policy that's still fairly lenient compared to other mobile app stores. Check it out.
Jessica Dolcourt reviews the latest and greatest smartphone apps, in addition to a healthy dose of Windows software. E-mail Jessica and follow her on Twitter.
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by RebeldeSinCausa
October 9, 2009 10:50 PM PDT
- Windows marketplace for mobile shows some hope for the future. Now, if we can only get developers to create good programs.
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by CrashPad63
October 10, 2009 6:04 AM PDT
- WinMo has already 50000 apps developed for it. Just needed to centralize it for ease of access. Thats what MS is doing with Marketplace. WinMo has had developement going for 15 years. The API is well known and easy to develope for. They will do fine.
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by Frederikrooms
October 10, 2009 2:58 PM PDT
- The largest company of them all (RIM, Android, Iphone OS, Symbian) and still the slowest in developing such an easy feature. I just don't know what these people do!
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by jpoirier587
October 12, 2009 8:18 AM PDT
- @Frederikrooms
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(7 Comments)Since last week we know the answer to that question: nothing and that's why Microsoft sacked most of theml! A new glimmer of hope!
maybe they assumed their users were savy enough not to have to need one. i use symbian which doesn't have an app store and i found all my apps just fine. its a nice feature to have for the layman but if you're using windows mobile you're probably smart enough to find them on your own