Steve Ballmer Confirms Windows Mobile App-Store in the Works

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.neowin.net/news/main/08/11/08/microsoft-working-on-app-store-like-software-distribution' target='_blank'>http://www.neowin.net/news/main/08/...re-distribution</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Steve Ballmer, at the recently held developers conference at Sydney, Australia, said that Microsoft is working on a App-store like software distribution. Apple's iPhone and App-store have really stirred the Windows Mobile Market. Though there are many 'app-store like' distributions, for example - Handango, they are not something that is offered directly from Microsoft. But at the same time Ballmer also mentioned there are no plans to mimic iPhone's App-store."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1210831667.usr8.jpg" /><br /><br />Has anyone else noticed how talkative Steve Ballmer has been lately? For the longest time now we haven't heard anything from Microsoft and now it is as though they took the gag out of Steve's mouth! I know we reported on this a while back, but it is nice to see some of the higher-ups in Microsoft confirming what were before just rumors. No matter what Microsoft decides to do anything will be better than Handango. The last time I used Handango the site was so poorly laid out that I felt as though I was pulling out my own teeth. Though Microsoft will have to be careful shaking things up to much. We all know how much the Windows Mobile developers out there<em><strong> love</strong></em> Handango and might not want to use anything else!<em> (That last sentance was pure sarcasm for anyone that didn't pick up on it!)</em></p>

[possmann]

Hopefully they (MS) uses the revenue generated to fix the flippin' alarm clock function as well as a couple of other annoying OS "undocumented features".

Sorry for the sarcasim - I just see this as a vehicle to increase revenue and judging past performance it will take a couple of "versions" in order for MS to get this right and user friendly...

[Diablo2424]

Between the iPhone's app store and now the Android Market, it makes sense that Micro$oft is coming out with thier own app store... I just hope all the good applications that everyone uses are on there.

Both for Windows Mobile Standard(Smartphone) and WM Professional(Touch-Screen phones).

Also it should be included in the installation of WM 6.5/7, so once all devices are up to date with the new WM they'll be connected to the app store(provided they pay for a data service of course, or use WiFi all the time)

[alex_kac]

Honestly I think some of that is just plain wrong. I don't love Handango, but I don't hate them either. You could ask any current and past Handango employee and they will tell you that I am one of their biggest critics internally. But I also think they have had a completely unfair shake. I really like MobiHand, PocketLand, Motricity, and so on but Handango has honestly had the best overall package for years.

Most of the negative stuff you hear about Handango from developers that I have seen have a side of the story you don't hear, but I have. In some of it, Handango has been wrong and in much of it they were falsely maligned.

Now as for Microsoft - if their Windows Mobile Store isn't like Apple's, then what's the point? WM6 already has an app store. No OEM shipped it. What else are they going to do? How convoluted is this mess going to be?

[tnels!]

As a developer, I am happy to learn of this news! I can only hope that M$ will break the Handango monopoly. Competition is good!