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Today, Microsoft announced the revenue split terms for Windows Mobile developers selling their applications through Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace for Mobile:
Developers who sell applications through Windows Marketplace for Mobile will receive 70 percent of the revenue from the sales of each application. In addition, they will be able to set the price for their applications in each market, maximizing their revenues based on targeted pricing strategies. Developers can also choose to distribute their applications at no cost. Up to five application submissions to Windows Marketplace for Mobile is included in the introductory annual registration fee of $99 (U.S.). Each additional submission within the annual period will cost $99 (U.S.). The registration fee is waived for student developers who want to reach Windows phones customers, through enrollment in the Microsoft DreamSpark program.
But before you start working on a killer flatulence application for Windows Mobile, there’s some fine print to consider:
With Windows Marketplace for Mobile available in 29 countries, developers will be able to tap into a broad international customer base. At the same time, Microsoft will continue working with developers to ensure that their applications run optimally on Windows phones by running a rigorous certification and testing process before applications go to market. Developers will be able to see detailed feedback during and after the certification process of their application on the Windows Marketplace for Mobile developer portal. Ultimately this enables developers to devote more time to writing innovative applications, and less time trying to navigate the approval process. Developers will have access to all details once the registration doors open in the spring, and will be able to start submitting their applications later this summer.
Only time will tell how restrictive the certification process will prove to be. Tools and info at http://developer.windowsmobile.com.
As expected, Microsoft and its partners today unveiled the first Windows Mobile 6.5 phones as well as the Windows Marketplace for Mobile applications store (formerly codenamed Skymarket):
Today at Mobile World Congress 2009, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer along with key mobile partners, HTC, LG and Orange, unveiled new Windows phones featuring new user-friendly software and services. The next generation of Windows phones will be based on Windows Mobile 6.5 and feature a new user interface and a richer browsing experience. In addition, Windows phones will feature two new services: My Phone, to sync text messages, photos, video, contacts and more to the Web; and Windows Marketplace for Mobile, a new marketplace that will provide direct-to-phone mobile applications and can be accessed from both the phone and the Web.
The phones include the LG-GM7300 which currently runs 6.1, but will add a Windows Mobile 6.5 version and the new HTC’s Touch Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2 which will be upgradeable to 6.5. So when will Windows Mobile 6.5 actually appear on a phone? All Microsoft will say is that "the new Windows phones are expected to be available in the second half of 2009."
Motorola’s earnings conference call today was mostly about dismal financial results, but CEO Sanjay Jha let slip some Windows Mobile 7 information in discussing their future mobile phone handset efforts:
"As you know, Windows 6 series is available in 2009 and as compared to Android, we believe in 2009 Android is more competitive; more of our effort and focus in 2009 is going to Android, but in 2010 when Windows 7 will become available, we will then participate in a more focused way in Windows Mobile 7 in 2010."
That’s in line with previous Windows Mobile 7 rumors, but Motorola skipping the apparently imminent Windows Mobile 6.5 for a newfound interest in Android isn’t good news for Microsoft.
Tom Warren at Neowin has the skinny on 3 new cloud computing applications that Microsoft is planning to announce at the Mobile World Congress in February:
SkyBox is a service for users to sync a phones information with the web. Microsoft will be offering automatic backup and restore services, access and management of phone data and provide easy communication and sharing with others. The service will also allow syncing of contacts, email/SMS, calendar items and pictures into the cloud, similar to Apple’s MobileMe. The difference from Apple’s offering is Microsoft could be set to offer this out to non Windows Mobile devices.
SkyLine will be aimed at small businesses. Offering similar functionality to SkyBox, businesses will be able to setup their phones with Microsoft’s Exchange hosting with their own domain names.
SkyMarket is the codename for Microsoft’s mobile marketplace, a competitor to Apple’s AppStore and RIM’s Blackberry application center. This service will only be available on Windows Mobile devices and will showcase the 1000s of Windows Mobile applications available today.
SkyMarket was revealed back in August 2008 and yes, it is a bit of stretch to call an online store a cloud app.. The same sources also suggest that Microsoft will unveil Windows Mobile 6.5 at the same conference.
