Microsoft has taken some hits lately given the recent announcements regarding the upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 and the Marketplace. The word that developers who submit apps to the Marketplace would have to pay for all updates to those apps grabbed just about everyone the wrong way. Microsoft has been listening to the feedback and has backed off of that requirement and shared some new information with us about the direction of Windows Mobile.
The major news about the Marketplace and Windows Mobile can be broken down as follows:
- Developers can offer updates to their apps in the Marketplace at no charge for the life of the app.
- Customers can buy apps in the Marketplace with a credit card or have them charged to their phone bill.
- Apps can be refunded within 24 hours after purchase.
- More than 25 ISVs are active in the Marketplace, including Facebook, MySpace, AP Mobile and Spb. The Facebook app will be available for free download in April. The partners are 3deep by LiteScape, Accuweather, AP Mobile, CNBC, Developer One, EA Mobile, Facebook, Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Handmark, Ilium Software, Jeyo Inc., Kinoma, Magmic, Melodis Corp., MySpace, Namco Networks, Pandora, PhatWare Corp., Resco, SBSH Mobile, ShoZu, Inc., Sling Media, Spb Software, Web Information Solutions, and Zagat Survey.
- Windows Live for Windows Mobile is available now in 25 countries. A beta version of a new Windows Live Hotmail is available and can be downloaded through a mobile browser at m.mail.live.com.
- Microsoft is partnering with major design studios to produce themes for Windows Mobile 6.5.
- A Windows Mobile Theme Generator will be available later this year.
- Phones that can run WM 6.1 are capable of running WM 6.5, but the option to upgrade will lie with handset OEMs and carriers. This is business as usual and nothing new.


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