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Mon, 01 Sep 2008 Microsoft, Google plan their own App Stores for mobiles

Apple impresses, competitors imitate once again

Jonny Evans

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Apple's iPhone continues to make waves with Google, and now Microsoft, both revealing plans to launch their own versions of the AppStore in order to stay competitive with Apple

The App Store could become a $1.2 billion business by 2009, according to Piper Jaffray analyst, Gene Munster. Analysts and developers have been excited at Apple's simple implementation of a store front to make mobile applications easily accessible by users, spawning a major market opportunity from scratch.

Competing firms won't stand still. Google last week revealed its plans to launch an Apple-like application store for Google Android, the Android Market.

Like Apple's AppStore,"The Android Market will allow developers to offer both free and for-purchase applications to people with Android based smartphones. Built-in support for the Android Market will be included in the Android OS," the report explains.

Now Microsoft has reportedly taken a similar step, planning the launch of SkyMarket, an application store for Windows Mobile that the company plans to open for business next year.

Proof of Microsoft's intent comes in the form of a job posting on the company recruitment site for a senior product manager for SkyMarket, a v1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile.

Apple has clearly done it again here: presenting a simple idea that is well-executed in order to create a platform for mobile application sales that has generated immediate success and caused competitors to ask why they themselves didn't think of it.

“The App Store is a grand slam, with a staggering 10 million applications downloaded in just three days,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO speaking three days after launch of the App Store. “Developers have created some extraordinary applications, and the App Store can wirelessly deliver them to every iPhone and iPod touch user instantly.”

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Comments received


Michael said on Mon, 01 Sep 2008

Can you imagine how upside down and backwards the M$ app store will be?

Franc Lee said on Mon, 01 Sep 2008

I have both the 8 & 16 GB iphones. The device is okay, not great. Reception is spotty, and it doesn't matter if you're on 3G or Edge network. I would not recommend the iphone 3G unless your carrier offers 3G and the iphone is unlocked. If you are contemplating buying one, DON'T.

Ben London said on Mon, 01 Sep 2008

I'd agree with the probs Franc Lee has mentioned, is a bit of a disappointment, still. It's early days for a whole new platform from Apple. But this story shows how once these glitches are ironed out, the iPhone is quite compelling (I'm a Blackberry user currenlty, but looking forward to contract renewal day)

Andy said on Tue, 02 Sep 2008

I have been disappointed with my iPhone 3G. It's not terrible, but missing many things I think it should have. SMS typing can't keep up with me, no copy paste, one app at a time, so IM and streaming radio is less than ideal, reception is spotty and AT&T service is more expensive. 3G service is not avialable from AT&T where I live yet. I'm sure, or would like to believe Apple will solve the probs soon.

App le said on Tue, 02 Sep 2008

The main event:

The apple app store VS The other app stores.

dean collins said on Tue, 02 Sep 2008

I'm wondering when a 'cross platform mobile' application market will be launched?

Obviously there are more windows mobile applications than any other mobile platform out there just seems strange nothing competing with the iPhone app store has been launched.

Seems like an obvious choice with
windows.MobileAppStore.net
or
android.MobileAppStore.net
or
iphone.MobileAppStore.net etc etc.


Cheers,
Dean

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