Not content to let Apple suck up all the attention today, Microsoft revealed more details about the soon-to-launch Windows Marketplace at its Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans this morning.
The Marketplace will open for submissions on July 27 in 29 countries and is still on track to open this fall with the release of Windows Mobile 6.5. The company will also host a developer contest which will be announced closer to launch.
Perhaps most significant is support later this year for Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 bringing Windows Marketplace over 30 million potential customers.
There will be approximately 600 applications available at launch and the Marketplace will have a Business Center that will categorize apps by industry and business function. Microsoft says it hopes this will enable developers to differentiate their apps in the Marketplace, something that’s plagued developers in other app stores. Even Apple’s App Store has reorganized and restructured since its inception to help useful apps grab more mindshare.
Let’s just hope Windows Mobile 6.5 is a half-decent operating system. If not, the Windows Marketplace will have trouble getting off the ground.
