Windows Marketplace will be launched at the end of this year, when Windows Mobile 6.5 becomes available.

Microsoft now announced that at launch, there will be 600 different applications available:

For the launch of MarketPlace, 600 applications will be certified and available. It will be possible to retrieve the software from the search engine. Only software compatible with the screen resolution, touch or not touch will be visible to the user. Customers can test the software since they will be sold with a satisfaction or your money back offer valid for 24 hours. The customer may choose to pay by credit card will be billed directly or by deduction from the invoice operator (as operators).

(Audrey Zolghadr, Windows Mobile Product Manager at Microsoft France) via Mobifrance and WMExperts

Both Apple and Nokia had around 500 items in their stores at launch. While it really depends on what games and applications will be available in Marketplace, 600 items sounds promising. There is already a big developer base for building Windows Mobile applications. This can help Microsoft to get more content in the store fast after launch.

Some other interesting points from the interview:

• Users of Marketplace will only see content that is suitable for their phone. The store filters content based on resolution and touch or keyboard.
• Customers who buy an application can return it within 24 hours to get a refund. This is the same as Google does for Android Market.
• Billing for paid applications will be possible with credit card and operator billing. Microsoft will probably announce a specific list of operators that support this feature. For other operators, customers will have to pay using credit card.

As the Marketplace launch is getting closer, more details are being announced. We’ll keep you posted and will be tracking the store when it goes live.

Vincent Hoogsteder

Tags: Windows Marketplace

This entry was posted on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 1:32 pm by Vincent Hoogsteder and is filed under Windows Marketplace. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.