Microsoft rushing "thousands" of apps for WP7 launch, has 80
updated 12:10 pm EDT, Tue October 12, 2010
MS insists WP7 to have thousands of apps on launch
Microsoft as part of its Windows Phone 7 launch has added that it's expecting "thousands" of submissions for Windows Phone Marketplace by the time the European launch kicks off on October 21. The company is pushing them to submit their apps early to the newly created App Hub and has a special process for those who get in before October 13.
The early acceptance also came with a change in policy that let developers who pay the $99 annual fee write for both Xbox 360 and WP7 platforms.
While the actual availability is likely to vary, Microsoft's platform has faced a battle to get acceptance from developers that have mostly committed to Android, BlackBerry and iOS. As of the media event on Monday, the Marketplace had just 80 titles, a fraction even of smaller stores like BlackBerry App World or the webOS App Catalog. Staffers have promised that the lineup is just a subset of what will be available but have previously admitted that Microsoft has had to promise financial guarantees to some developers to port or write new apps for WP7.
Over the weekend, Microsoft's attempts to fill its catalog reached a controversial peak when it was accused by Rovio of artificially padding its catalog by showing Angry Birds and possibly other titles as coming to WP7 when they weren't even in development.
TAGS :
industry, Microsoft, BlackBerry, Xbox 360, mobile phones, webOS, Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone Marketplace, iOS, Rovio
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2010
It's an error
It's a rounding error. Or is it just 8 apps really. And to think Microcopy have to bribe developers to write apps for this hi-tech, forward thinking, different phone.
What will Analysts say? It's going to kill both Apple's iPhone and Google's Android!!
Nope, don't think so. I thought the first advert was pathetic, and said nothing. It could have been any other phone. But I loved the second advert. Thought it was really funny, but still I can not see Microcopy changing human nature or habits. We all look at our phones Balmer Boy. I hate the tiles UI, it looks child like. Thank God for Apple and Google. That presentation and venue, how not to launch a vital product. Really poor presentation, standing in front of the screen, and those shadows were driving me nuts with distraction. That guy went through so many features, so fast, I forgot all of them.