Comments on: Why I’m worried Windows Marketplace for Mobile will undermine creativity and experimentation

By: Windows Marketplace for Mobile to charge developers for application updates | Window7s

Fri, 15 May 2009 13:49:44 +0000

[...] the confirmation that developers submitting free applications are not given exceptions to the cost of su…, I’ve also received word from Microsoft “application updates will count as new [...]

By: Windows Marketplace for Mobile to charge developers for application updates - istartedsomething

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:55:47 +0000

[...] Why I’m worried Windows Marketplace for Mobile will undermine creativity and experimentation [...]

By: MIX09: Windows Mobile 6.5 shows more polish - istartedsomething

MIX09: Windows Mobile 6.5 shows more polish - istartedsomething — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:20:00 +0000

[...] Why I’m worried Windows Marketplace for Mobile will undermine creativity and experimentation [...]

By: tom

tom — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:40:03 +0000

One thing I never like about Microsoft is the fact that they always talk soo much about what are going to do but then end up usually doing very little.

Companies like Apple on other hand don’t usually talk that much about what they are going to do… instead they tell what they have actually done.

By: forestG

forestG — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:05:07 +0000

I don’t think that it is wrong of them to limit free apps this way. Because unlike Apple , you can always get a free app from a developers blog or something like that. Plus, the marketplace will be far more organized and with better quality than the iphone’s . As for including the free apps for trial purposes( for a normal paid app), there is no need to do so , because there will be a trial period an the users will be able to test it without buying it beforehand.

By: Brendon Davis

Brendon Davis — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:47:24 +0000

I was going to suggest myself, but Andrew has put it perfectly. Having a two layered approach for $certified$ and free apps will give the users and developers an informed choice.

By: Kevin Daly

Kevin Daly — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:25:02 +0000

I have additional questions about this:
- Does the 5 Applications limit apply to updates? If that’s the case developers will be actively discouraged from fixing bugs and responding to customer feedback (something I personally put a lot of effort into).
- Are there additional costs? If developers are still expected to pay the costs of certification and any code-signing certificates that may be required (as opposed to optional) – (Apple includes code signing certs in the yearly $99 fee, and I believe Android allows self-signing), forget it. It will be impossible for anyone other than the Enterprise crowd (whom Microsoft has been courting for years ignoring that phones and PDAs are inherently personal and in all but nice markets consumer devices) the barrier to entry will be to high, and given the low margins we’ve seen in the Apple App Store I don’t see much chance of even recouping development costs, let alone making a profit.
- I believe 29 countries were mentioned for the initial launch. Will the marketplace be open to *developers* from those countries, or will it be restricted to US or North American or US+UK developers? If the latter then I will frankly abandon all of my personal development projects using Microsoft technologies. I Shouldn’t have to ask this question but experience indicates that I do.

A final observation: Including free apps in the limit means only students will put free apps in the marketplace. This is a shame, because they are not only a useful way to initially engage with your customer base, but also give customers a chance to get an idea of what you can offer (in terms of technology and service) before they hand over money.

I know the tone of this comment is negative and combative, and I’m sorry for that. But I’ve been using and developing for Microsoft’s mobile platforms since buying a Jornada 545 in 2000, and I really do believe in what we now call Windows Mobile (although I think Pocket PC expressed a concept that I was happier with, particularly since Palm at the time were assuring everybody that all you needed was a monochrome PIM that didn’t do anything much. I *want* Windows Mobile and initiatives such as this to succeed and prosper – I just hope the responsible parties at Microsoft get this right.

We need it (particularly since Handango for example no seems to be irretrievably broken), but done badly it would be worse than nothing.

By: Glen

Glen — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:30:54 +0000

I personally wouldn’t be worried about this. The major difference is that Microsoft does not prevent you from just copying the cab file to the phone and running it there. So those “suspect-quality” or at least lower grade apps will still be released and distributed via current means.

By: bluvg

bluvg — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:26:02 +0000

I just think the whole thing is ironic, given Steve Ballmer’s earlier derision of Apple’s pricing model. Now they’re adopting nearly the same model when Windows Mobile really needs a shot in the arm. It’s like the Zune–it’s a great device, but who will buy it when it’s the same price as the iPod? Does Microsoft really care about winning? Are they completely immune to how so many have basically dismissed them as a true competitor to RIM and Apple? The platform is evolving at a snail’s pace, and rather than do something dramatic to attempt to draw any attention back to WinMo, it’s like they are putting their fingers in their ears and are pretending all’s well. They may have respectable marketshare NOW, but they have zero momentum.

One would think that if they were truly aggressive and interesting in WINNING, they’d do something other than a hopelessly late, me-too offering.

By: Surur

Surur — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:58:52 +0000

If an app cant raise $100 in donations (to submit to the store) its probably not very good or interesting either.