Windows Marketplace for Mobile-Will it Be Good Enough?

With the launch of he new Windows mobile 6.5 also came the release of the Window Marketplace for mobile. Windows answer to iPhone. But in a market where iPhone is king, and all the other app stores for Smartphones are all the same and run scared from iPhone, will Windows be able to take their fair cut? Well, in some ways yes and in others no.

And Here Are The Reason Why

Well for starters, Windows Marketplace for Mobile has nowhere near as many apps available as the iPhone ‘s app store. As of Tuesday’s starting point, there were only about 100 apps ready to go. Granted, they are just starting out, but you would think that knowing how many apps your biggest competitor has, not to mention how many apps all the other competitors have, would have made them move the developer’s butts a little faster right from the beginning. Another thing that see,s to be annoying WinMo 6.5 users is the limitation of which apps can be used on which phones. Yes, it is a great feature to have that the browsable list of categories of apps only meant for your phone, and for your country, but when you live in Finland, you are sure to want more than 2 apps available. Yes, that’s right. Only 2 available in Finland. So why make a big deal out of what is looking to be almost nothing?

Because Windows Marketplace for Mobile Has One Thing iPhone’s App Store Doesn’t

A really cool 24 hour do it yourself refund policy. That’s right. Windows Marketplace for mobile allows a user to buy an app, and then if they don’t like it, return it for a full refund with in 24 hours. Apple refuses to allow refunds, saying that enough information is given to the users before buying the apps. Apparently between user reviews (which those users did not know anything about the app before buying it) and some of the “lite” trial apps offered, Apple thinks that’s enough to show the users what the apps are all about. The only downside to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile app store refund policy? You can only get one refund per month so as to not abuse the system. Which makes a lot of sense. Think about it. Someone smart enough to buy a game that they like, use it for 23 hours and return it for a refund of all their money. Then in 24 hours do the same thing. A really (dumb) easy way to get your favorite game for free. So by limiting the amount of refunds will limit the way app users will be able to do things like that, being as you have 24 hours to decide if you want an app or not.

And The Verdict Is?

Well, if windows Marketplace for Mobile can somehow develop another 100,000 apps within the next few months or so, I think they will be fine. But considering that doing that will be very unlikely, I don’t see how the Windows Marketplace for Mobile will even be able to get off the ground, let alone stay afloat. How many people are going to settle for just a little over 100 apps… And that’s the total amount of apps. There is no guarantee that those apps will actually work on your phone. That being said, I think iPhone will win this battle and rule once again….Or will it?

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