MS unveils mobile phone application store plans

Developers will be charged registration fees of US$99 and be able to dictate the prices for their applications sold online at Windows Marketplace for Mobile, according to the Redmond, Washington-based firm.

Microsoft will keep 30% of sales revenues, with the remainder of the money going to makers of applications. The revenue split is the same at the App Store, which opened in 2008.

"With the new Windows Marketplace for Mobile and our great development tools, Windows phones represent an incredible opportunity for developers everywhere," said Microsoft senior vice president of the mobile communications business Andy Lees.

Microsoft promises the Marketplace process will be "transparent" to allow developers to stay informed from start to finish.

The certification process at the App Store is notoriously cloaked, with Apple strictly controlling which software makes it onto iPhones and iPod Touch devices.

Marketplace will launch with the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system.

Tools for developing applications for Windows phones are available online at http://developer.windowsmobile.com.

The success of Apple's App Store that sells applications for iPhones and iPod Touch MP3 players has inspired rivals to invest in online shops stocked with mini-programmes for mobile devices based on competing operating systems.

Late last year, Google opened an Android Market that sells mini-applications for mobile phones based on Android open-source software championed by the California Internet giant.

Finland-based Nokia, leader of the global mobile telephone market, has announced plans to open an Ovi online application shop in May. Ovi is to also sell games, audiobooks, podcasts and pictures.

Research in Motion Ltd. in Canada plans to have an App World store online selling mini-programs for its ubiquitous BlackBerry mobile devices in the next few months.

Apple reported in January that downloads of iPhone and iPod Touch applications from the App Store passed the half-billion mark.

Source: AFP

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