Comments on: Microsoft vis-a-vis the App Store

Where exactly is Microsoft when it comes to the iPhone? Will there be Microsoft applications for the iPhone? News.com's Ina Fried sorts through the hype.

[Penguinisto]

WinMobile a "vibrant ecosystem"? It's dead-last in the North American market - behind RIM and Apple (well, okay, MSFT is doing better than Palm, but that ain't much for consolation). Globally, only the iPhone's infant entry into the world-wide market keeps WinMobile ahead, and I daresay that won't be the case for very long (Symbian is the big boy to beat down in the global arena).

[lifelonglego]

They are talking about software. 18,000 easily beats 500. Not to mention most Windows mobile phones own the Iphone when comparing features. Outlook access, mobile sync, free apps, complete office integration for editing all documents, etc., etc. Not to mention, Windows mobile gives the user more power. I don't want an OS designed for someone that can't read and is attracted to shiny things above all else. I want an OS designed for smart intelligent people that can make up their own minds and be productive with something a fast powerful and open interface. All features mentioned in this comment are absent from Iphone along with a qwerty keybord for actual productivity. Iphone is a toy, Windows Mobile is a serious tool as well as a toy.

[timber2005]

Correction:
MOBILE "Internet Explorer 6 capability "

Whats in WM5 already has some above IE6 cabability... it can show alpha png correctly!

[pilaa]

Microsoft can't compete period! I have a T-Mobile Wing and it is a piece of crap. The Windows mobile interface is cumbersome and very hard to view, the apps crash because they never close and use up all the system resources without warning, and browsing the Internet is absolutely terrible. I tried demoing the iPhone and was able to use it easily with one hand for most things and it was very easy for anyone to use.

Not too sure what Microsoft is going to do with Danger but they sure better think of something fast or they should just pack it in and concentrate on on fixing their core competency products (Windows and Office).

[LunaticSX]

18,000 applications on Windows Mobile? Ok, but how many of them are any GOOD? How many of them are both FREE and good? Or even less than $10 and good? And how many of them are easy to browse through and load right from the device itself, without requiring you to first load some other third-party app?

[lifelonglego]

many are free and almost all of the are under 10 dollars. Probably about 10,000 are good. Not to mention, Windows Mobile is easier for anyone who has ever programmed for windows, which is most developers, because WM uses many of the same APIs.

[atish505]

WINDOWS MOBILE SUCKS

Apple will sell more iPhones than all other Windows Mobile devices combined this year.
And not to mention, RIM and Symbian devices will still outsell iPhone. Android phones will be coming out later this year. What doe sall of this mean?

Windows Mobile is a dead platform ... reminds me of zune ....!

[samkass]

There will always be Microsoft fanboys out there that will buy whatever they shovel out-- Plays4Sure, Zune, Wince, Windows Mobile-- but they've lost the appeal of the average buyer. They are increasingly relegated to the same role Apple played in the 90's, where they won't die and will probably even be profitable, but they won't be the automatic choice of the consumer.

From all reports I've read, it's easier to develop a good-looking, useful iPhone app than any other mobile phone app, then easier to sell and monetize it. With consumers gobbling up the devices and creating a willing market, why would developers go anywhere else? Hopefully many of those 18,000 applications will stay away (who needs 400 apps to generate to-do lists?), but I think you'll see the best all come to Apple.

[lifelonglego]

That is a completely fictitiuos statement. Any developer who doesn't want 30% of their income slashed by apple should stay on windows mobile. WM has more features, more functionality, AND is available on any network so you are not restricted to AT&T. also, Iphone costs way more than 200$ when you consider all of the hidden fees. Windows mobile is really a "no strings attached" environment.

[TomMariner]

It's cool to love Apple and despise Microsoft.

Jobs and the crew at Apple are heroes of mine for helping bring back the notion that technical innovation is exciting, sells, and will actually help.

But compare 30% to free for running an app under the OS and the claimed 18000 applications on Windows Mobile and you start to see the power of perception. Today's Google technical news section had three articles changing all day, each on the IPhone 3G and another two in business. You'd normally have to have a tsunami with live footage to get that kind of coverage -- and everyone already knew all of the facts about the release -- and it was a second version.

But yes, all hail the team that can generate that kind of excitement and yes Microsoft had better crank up a lot more innovative face if it wants to compete with Apple, just being good technically ain't gonna cut it any more,.Every day I hear that our customers want the same as they have been getting -- Until a competitor changes the rules and starts stealing market share.

[Penguinisto]

Quick - what's 30% of $0.00? ;)

[Earl Benzar]

MS should be worried about those footsteps they hear called Android. Give Ballmer another chair to throw around the office.

[weeblnbob]

iPhones and similar devices fall into the category of embedded computing. Linux is the darling of the embedded industry because of it's open source and imminent portability to small platforms. Embedded manufacturers like Via Technologies and Freescale supply working Linux demos for their latest chips long before Microsoft will ever get a Windows release for them. In a marketplace as fickle as cell phones, there simply isn't time for much development before the market finds another phone with different hardware to obsess over. MS might like to get into embedded computing a bit more but they're just too slow to adopt new hardware platforms. That's a bad thing in today's world. The market will ultimately decide MS's fate regardless of how many chairs Steve Ballmer throws across the room.

[technewsjunkie]

Same old story from Microsoft - We have Quantity ("more" of this/that)

Poor Apple, it has to settle for QUALITY, not Quantity.