Microsoft is now taking submissions of apps for its Windows Marketplace for Mobile from registered developers in 29 countries including the UK. Prizes will be offered for the most popular apps based on downloads, revenue, usefulness and playfulness.
Todd Brix, leader of Windows Marketplace for Mobile at Microsoft said developers will be allowed to include their own marketing materials and will earn money from sales. Microsoft said 30 million people have access to Windows mobile apps software.
Competitor Apple's App Store serves 45m iPhone users in 77 countries. Since its launch last year the 65,000 apps have been downloaded over one billion times.
Microsoft's moves comes late in the game, as mobile operators, handset manufactureres and media owners have already started opening up to app developers.
According to independent app store GetJar, mobile users are increasingly using mobile social networking apps instead of making voice calls. The findings reveal that mobile users now take as much news from their mobile as they do from newspapers and TV, and surf the web more on their mobile than they do via their PC.
.jpg)
.jpg)