Microsoft Stands By "Quality Over Quantity" Strategy

[Danny Simmons]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20049132-17.html' target='_blank'>http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20049132-17.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Since the launch of Windows Phone 7 operating system last year, Microsoft has been trying to catch up to Apple and Google in the mobile-apps race. And the software giant took to its blog yesterday to share its progress. Microsoft says that there are now 11,500 applications available in its Windows Marketplace store. Out of that, 7,500 applications are paid, while 1,110 apps are generating revenue through ads, thanks to the company's Microsoft Advertising Ad Control service. On average, Microsoft says, users are downloading 12 apps each month."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1302045274.usr51221.jpg" style="border: #d2d2bb 1px solid;" /></p><p>Microsoft is slowly seeing the rewards of some hard work.&nbsp; Scratching Windows Mobile and starting a fresh new mobile OS was not an easy task.&nbsp; But here we are 6 months since it's debut, and we're seeing some serious signs of growth.&nbsp; This new OS is catching on.&nbsp; Share it with your friends, share it with your enemies, share it with everyone.&nbsp; Request that companies launch a Windows Phone 7 version of their app.&nbsp; This is how it will continue to grow.&nbsp; I&nbsp;don't know about you, but I'm sick of seeing an app advertised on TV only to find out it's only available on iPhone and Android.&nbsp; Who's going to convince these companies to take Windows Phone 7 seriously?&nbsp; I think it's us.&nbsp; Let's show them that we are growing and deserve the attention.&nbsp; What app do you wish was on Windows Phone?</p>

[Brad Adrian]

...Scratching Windows Mobile and starting a fresh new mobile OS was not an easy task...
You're definitely right, even though Microsoft has done it before when they moved from the "Pocket PC" platform to the "Windows Mobile" platform. So, since we've been down this road many, many times before, I'll hold off my guesses until the fat lady has sung.

I love your enthusiasm for WP7 and applaud your comments about spreading the word, because that's the only way this will get off the ground and spread, just as we saw back in 2000 with the first Pocket PCs. It was the grass roots advocacy that got it going in the first place.

Keep on pushing on!

[cPT.cAPSLOCK]

The Dutch news-related website website 'Nu.nl' (Nu means 'now' in English) has already finished their application, which has applied the metro style in a great fashion.

Unfortunately, the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways / trains) haven't followed Nu.nl's lead yet... That'd be pretty useful. Also the only real application I miss since switching to WP7.

[Phillip Dyson]

I agree with the quality over quantity strategy. I don't really think its the apps that are holding WP7 back its the platform.

MS needs to step into high gear on pushing the platform itself forward faster to catch up with the others.

Publishing the rollout schedule is a good move and they should keep it up on every release cycle. Its good to shame the carriers to let the updates go.

I don't think it was a coincidence that NoDo started pushing out after MS put up the status page.