Windows Phone 7 Apps Cheaper than the Competition

[Adan Galvan]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.readwriteweb.com/mobile/2010/11/windows-phone-7-apps-are-cheapest-of-all.php' target='_blank'>http://www.readwriteweb.com/mobile/...pest-of-all.php</a><br /><br /></div><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//wpt/auto/1290980693.usr681.png" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>It is tough to argue that the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace doesn't still have a ways to go before it can be considered on par with the Android and iPhone equivalents.&nbsp; However, the growth of the marketplace is quickly providing users with a wealth of apps that seek to extend and improve on the feature set of the operating system.&nbsp; Furthermore, it seems that developers on average are pricing their apps at a discount to those on Android.&nbsp; According to analytics firm Distimo, Windows Phone 7 Marketplace apps sell for an average of just $1.95.&nbsp; In fact, that report shows that there are zero apps that sell for greater than 9.99.&nbsp; Hit the link for the full breakdown and analysis.</p>

[Fritzly]

I am not surprised: In order to lure developers MS removed from WP7 even the most basic apps like Solitaire, Stock quotes, Weather etc.
I do not remember for sure about Windows 1 and 2 but 3 and all the following releases had Solitaire.

[txa1265]

Also, Apple has the iPad sales lumped in with the other iOS devices ...

And I have heard there are way too many $0.99 'single use' items in the WP7, such as 'convert Euros to Dollars' ... whereas Apple mandates combined functionality in those cases.

One thing for sure: Android is very much overpriced.

[Adan Galvan]

There are also no high-priced navigation apps yet. This will surely push the average price up.

[randalllewis]

Adam, I'm pretty sure you meant that it is tough to argue WP Marketplace DOESN'T still have a ways to go. I think it is also safe to argue the effort in the first 40 days or so is impressive

[txa1265]

Also, take a look at 148Apps (http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage=appprice), a site that tracks the iTunes App Store ... there are literally thousands of apps >$100 ... in fact there are likely more apps >$50 on iTunes than there are on the WP7 store!

[Adan Galvan]

Adam, I'm pretty sure you meant that it is tough to argue WP Marketplace DOESN'T still have a ways to go. I think it is also safe to argue the effort in the first 40 days or so is impressive

Good catch. I'll make the correction asap.

[Sven Johannsen]

Also, take a look at 148Apps (http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage=appprice), a site that tracks the iTunes App Store ... there are literally thousands of apps >$100 ... in fact there are likely more apps >$50 on iTunes than there are on the WP7 store!And? The discussion is about price paid, implying folks actually bought things. I could put a million dollar app on any platform store and drive that average up, if you don't consider sales.

[txa1265]

And? The discussion is about price paid, implying folks actually bought things. I could put a million dollar app on any platform store and drive that average up, if you don't consider sales.

Please show me where in the data it is weighted statistically according to sales volume and a reference to the valid algorithm used.

Exactly.

The author took an average of sales prices. There are no >$10 apps on the WP7 store, so the average is inherently lower compared to stores having higher priced items. Basic math.

I mean, think of it - remember paying $30 for games like Call of Duty for the Pocket PC? I had a blast with that on my Axim! Or $20+ for Broken Sword or Ultima Underworld or so many others.

Also, not every higher priced app is like the 'I am rich' $1000 do nothing app. The top priced one actually controls video surveillance cameras and has sold more than a few copies, and there are tons of REAL apps in the ~$100 or so area.

[Sven Johannsen]

Well, guess you're right. The title of the graph, "Average Price Paid" certainly implies sales to me. Sort of like average SRP of cars vs average price paid is significantly different. Does seem to sort of include the concept of purchase, considering that it compares the top 100 apps. "the app store with claim to the lowest average price among the top 100 paid applications". Wouldn't guess you would be in the top 100, less'n somebody was buy'n it.

[txa1265]

But that isn't such a bad thing ...

I mean, it is easy to get distracted by the minutia and focus on stuff the way I did, which is pretty much mandated by the inflammatory 'WP7 apps are cheapest' blatant hit-grabbing title.

But the real message here is that WP7 apps are competitively priced with the iTunes App store, and show yet another way Microsoft has broken the old WiMo ways! That is a *great* thing! It also highlights the pricing issues with Android apps ... something I definitely have noticed.

[Loxias]

But the real message here is that WP7 apps are competitively priced with the iTunes App store, and show yet another way Microsoft has broken the old WiMo ways! That is a *great* thing! It also highlights the pricing issues with Android apps ... something I definitely have noticed.
I'd have to disagree. If you take the same apps from iTunes and Zune you'll see the Windows programs are higher. Flight Control, Pocket God, Fruit Ninja are all .99 on iTunes and 2.99 on Zune. To me this doesn't show competitive pricing, unless you're okay with paying $2.00 for achievements.

[Sven Johannsen]

Well, that's the great thing about statistics. You can make them say whatever you want. I looked around iTunes and Zune and sure enough, the same games seem to generally be more for WP7. Intuitively that makes sense, if you want it to. There is a greater potential for selling the title on the iPhone (and iPad) than on WP7 because of the numbers in circulation. So if you want to recoup development cost you can charge less for the iApps expecting a higher penetration number, even assuming the same percentage of buyers. Doesn't make me feel better about paying more, but right know it sorta makes sense.

On the other hand I got Office for free, and a reasonable facsimile on the iPhone runs $5.99 (Office^2) to $16.99 (Documents to Go Premium).

The sample set was done on the platforms 100 best selling apps, and WP7 came out cheaper. Does that mean the apps are cheaper or the owners are cheaper? ;) Could just mean that the iPhone is to the point that more sophisticated apps are available, again because numbers of devices make developing such apps less risky.

Just seems an exercise in manipulating numbers out of context to have something to write about. I have to conceed Apple has us beat on fart apps though, 575 to 34, but give us time, we'll get there.