Microsoft Adds Apps to Windows Marketplace for Mobile

Even as Apple iPhone and iPod touch owners gained the power to download the Skype application from Apple’s App Store, Microsoft was lining up its partners for its own next generation of Windows phones, Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Microsoft announced that EA Mobile, the mobile unit of the Electronic Arts gaming company, and MySpace have joined the effort to provide greater form and functionality to users of Windows phones by making their applications available through Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Other companies that offer applications through Windows Marketplace for Mobile include AccuWeather.com., The Associated Press, CNBC, Developer One Mobile Software, Facebook, Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Handmark, Ilium Software Inc., Jeyo Inc., Kinoma, LiteScape, Magmic Games, Melodis Corp., Namco Networks, Netflix, Pandora, PhatWare Corp., Resco s.r.o., ShoZu Inc., Sling Media Inc., SBSH Mobile Software, Spb Software, Web Information Solutions Inc. and Zagat Survey.

Windows mobile developers who create apps can earn 70 percent of the revenue generated from the sales of their applications, according to Microsoft. Those applications can be priced and sold in 29 markets, and they can also be distributed through Windows Marketplace for Mobile for free.

Microsoft will certify applications before making them available via Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Developers can submit applications starting at the beginning of the summer, Microsoft says. Each developer will be able to submit up to five applications for the annual registration price of £69. Each additional application within the annual period will cost £69.

Microsoft says that developers can use tools such as Visual Studio and .Net Compact Framework 3.5 to build applications. The Windows Mobile 6 SDK is available here.