Windows Phone 7 has got yet another boost from Microsoft which will soon be coming up with the web based version of its App store for the platform.
The web based Windows Phone 7 Marketplace is likely to be released along with the Mango update of the smartphone operating system from Microsoft. The WP7 application store is likely to be built along the lines of Apple’s iTunes store and the Android Marketplace. The marketplace will allow the users to browse app screenshots, complete catalogue of the apps and app reviews.
Users would also be able to share their favourite apps through Twitter, Facebook or emails. Through this step, Microsoft is attempting to solve the app discovery problem as most of the app stores have so many applications that users find it difficult to find the ones they really need. For payment, the credit card of the users linked with their Windows Live ID will be used.
The moment the app is purchased, it will be downloaded over the air directly to the phone which can be installed later as per the users’ convenience. Another nice feature is ‘purchase history’, which means all the purchases made by the users are recorded on the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace. Whenever the user decides to upgrade his or her phone, all the apps will be reinstalled on the new phone.
On the app store front, the Apple and Android are still the ones who dominate the market, and the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace is Microsoft’s attempt to become more relevant in it. Apple allows some apps to be shown on the web, but the entire app store is not visible there. The web based presence of Windows Phone 7 Marketplace is important because the personal computer browsers are considered more convenient by the users. Also a web version means a bigger screen, hence more apps are visible which means users get more chances to discover the apps they need.