March 31st, 2009 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Platforms: Windows Mobile | No Comments »
As the launch of Microsoft's own App Store (Windows Marketplace for Mobile) is nearing, more details have been revealed to the Windows Mobile development community.
First off, the marketplace is confirmed to get operator billing, a great alternative to credit card billing, which was the only, supported method till now. Details about the operators supported haven't been revealed though.
To promote the store under operators, they will receive their own sweet spot. They can fully customize the experience and add their own applications and games. So the store-in-store concept is finally going mobile.
Just like Apple and Google, Microsoft will be offering a return policy. Unlike Apple though, developers and publishers don't have to pay for Microsoft's share.
To facilitate the PR of the launch, Microsoft has already signed deals with Facebook, MySpace, CNBC, The Associated Press, EA Mobile, Glu Mobile, Gameloft, Namco Networks, Handmark, Magmic Games, AccuWeather.com, Pandora, Netflix, Spb Software, SBSH Mobile Software, ShoZu Inc., PhatWare Corp., Resco s.r.o., Ilium Software Inc., Developer One Mobile Software, Jeyo Inc., Kinoma, LiteScape, Sling Media Inc., Web Information Solutions Inc., Melodis Corp. and Zagat Survey. EA Mobile, Gameloft, Namco and various others.
