An application party

Later this year, Microsoft will unveil its new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system (OS). But even before the new OS hits new devices, Microsoft is tying up with independent software vendors (ISVs) to set up an application marketplace.

But why would Microsoft get into applications? Sumeet Gugnani, Director of Microsoft’s Mobile Business in India, feels it will give added value to consumers, who could then pick and choose the types of applications — both productivity and entertainment related — on their device.

Earlier, devices came either preloaded with applications, or else users had to go through a convoluted way to download them. Even if the application was downloaded, because of a lack of product checks, compatibility was an issue. An application might have worked well on one handset, but not on another.

Quite a problem for an OS with 40 handsets available at any given point of time. The ‘Marketplace’ will solve this problem since access will be from the device itself and applications optimised for a particular device will be shown. For example, if a device does not have a touch-interface, applications that take advantage of touch will not show up.

So what type of applications will the Microsoft marketplace see?

If the successful Apple App Store is any indication, there will be all sorts of applications, from audio renditions of the Hanuman Chalisa to games taking advantage of the motion-sensitive controllers available on most phones.

However, having a viable marketplace, as Apple has proven, isn’t about making more money but about creating an ecosystem for consumers to use and stay with the product. Microsoft is, along with Google (the Android marketplace) and Research in Motion (makers of the BlackBerry), trying to catch up with Apple here. But first, we would like to see a couple of cool new Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets.