David M Williams
Wednesday, 09 September 2009 11:53
IT People -
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A new range of Windows Mobile 6.5-powered smartphones will be available for retail purchase from October 6th. That date also sees the Windows Mobile marketplace open its doors. Microsoft told iTWire why iPhone developers will find it a superior software outlet, why Windows Mobile crashes, and how Microsoft thought of the app store first.
Loke-Uei Tan, Senior Technical Product Manager for Windows Mobile, is presently in Australia to speak at Microsoft Tech-Ed. He took time from his busy schedule to speak with iTWire.
Loke-Uei’s career is an interesting one. He commenced with Microsoft Malaysia as a developer evangelist eight years ago. A few years into that role he assisted the Windows Mobile team with two large and successful conventions. He did such a good job that he was soon invited to relocate to Seattle to work on Windows Mobile on a global scale.
When Loke-Uei accepted this new position, some four years ago, the company wanted to aid developers by making ways to publicise their products to end users through to deployment on devices and monetisation.
In fact, helping company’s monetise software is something Microsoft does well through its Partner and ISV programmes. Yet, something was missing. Microsoft recognised it lacked a distribution channel on its mobile platform.
Loke-Uei told iTWire that a product was developed to solve this, although it never went live. Consequently, he points out, the Windows Mobile Marketplace actually predates Apple’s App Store.
The Marketplace is finally coming to Windows Mobile devices near you on October 6th. This is the date you can get a smartphone running Windows Mobile 6.5 into your hands. The regular, lengthy, process of OEMs and telephone carriers testing, approving and adding to the software has already taken place.
Only a very small number of devices from HTC and LG are expected to have upgrade paths provided meaning for most the entry to Windows Mobile 6.5 will require purchase of a new device.
Still, Loke-Uei notes, the new platform incorporates API support for GPS, light sensors, accelerometers, a compass, multi-touch and other technologies which will likely not have matching hardware support in older units anyway.
On the subject of how many applications would be available in the Marketplace on launch Loke-Uei was more tight-lipped. He stated there will be a large number, certainly far more than Palm provided in their meagre launch.
To ensure a good number of high quality apps Microsoft are keenly encouraging iPhone developers to come over to the other side. The hard work of coming up with a concept has already been done for these people, he points out. They just need to port their code.
In fact, Loke-Uei states, the Windows Mobile Marketplace is ripe for the picking. Any applications which are available on launch will have access to a potential audience of some 30 million customers without being lost in a deluge of apps.
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