No Webkit for IE, “App Store” definitely maybe and WM 6.5 for sure

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 10 November 2008 06:39

Opinion and Analysis

Of course, Microsoft needs to think about an App Store environment for PCs, the web and mobile devices, with Microsoft currently letting the Handango’s of the world charge even higher fees than Apple charges developers to sell product through the App Store – money that Microsoft could instead make, while lowering fees to 20% or 15% if it wanted, not that Ballmer said anything about that.

However Ballmer did suggest that an App Store environment was on the way, saying that Microsoft had “debated long and hard before the PDC (Professional Developers Conference) whether we ought to disclose some of the things that we've got in progress.

“We decided the answer was 'Not ready to talk about those yet,'. But fear not, we're hard at work, and you'll see some of the benefits [of an App Store type environment] with some of the concepts, particularly Facebook's."

So, even though Ballmer was trying not to confirm anything, he effectively let the cat out of the bag.

And why not? An App Store is such an obvious concept. Microsoft has had the “Windows Marketplace” for years, but it has never been integrated into either the desktop or mobile versions of Windows, instead only being some vague-ish online thing that no-one truly takes seriously.

If Apple’s app store can boast well over 5000 programs, how many thousands of tens of thousands could Microsoft easily boast? It’s time for Microsoft to start playing seriously and stop letting these smaller companies beat it at its own game.

And, it looks like the giant is awakening. Windows 7 is promising to actually run faster and leaner than its predecessor – for what could well be the first time ever in Microsoft’s history, and big changes are promised for Windows Mobile 6.5 and version 7.

At a Telstra event last week, Ballmer was quoted saying: "With releases we'll make this year - releases we'll make with 6.5 next year, Windows Mobile 7, I think we have a pretty interesting roadmap."

Now it’s time for Microsoft to follow through on its hints and promises. It’s time to stand and deliver. Mac OS X and Linux wait for no version of Windows – and Windows cannot afford to let them get too far ahead, lest Windows lose its importance.

Nor can Windows Azure take forever to mature and develop. With competitors like Google who release early and update often, Microsoft has never been under greater pressure.

Personally I think they can do it, and I think they understand more than ever that speed is important, but so is quality – more so that ever.

But there are plenty out there who want to see Microsoft fall, from Linux advocates who hate Microsoft to all its competitors.

2009 is going to be a very interesting year, as cloud computing platforms, operating systems, smartphones and more fight for your attention. Chances are Microsoft will still come out on top, but to do so, 2009 is a year they can’t afford to stuff up.