Average Rating: Rate this article:

Microsoft App Store, Windows Mobile Update Likely By Barry Levine February 9, 2009 9:08AM Microsoft reportedly plans a Skymarket app store for Windows Mobile devices, similar to Apple, Inc.'s App Store for the iPhone. Microsoft also reportedly plans a version 6.5 update to Windows Mobile. Microsoft has already launched My Phone for backups, modeled after Apple's MobileMe. Skymarket apps won't be exclusive to Microsoft's store.   Related Topics Microsoft Windows Mobile Apple App Store iPhone My Phone MobileMe Latest News Astronauts Await Word of Baby Girl Radical Steps Won't Stop Swine Flu Ancient Crocodile Fossils Found Astronauts Take First Spacewalk Cloud Cover Blocks Meteor Showers Attention, iPhone. Microsoft is gearing up its own marketplace and calendar-syncing software for mobile devices. The Wall Street Journal reported the software giant is planning an "online bazaar" with new programs and services for phones using the Windows Mobile operating system. At the Mobile World Congress conference next week in Barcelona, CEO Steve Ballmer is scheduled to give one of the keynote speeches, and new services and software could be formally announced then. Skymarket The applications store, according to other reports, will be launched in the fall under the name of Skymarket. While Apple and others have centralized third-party applications for their mobile devices, apps for Windows Mobile devices have been available in a variety of locations. In fact, many users may not realize how many third-party apps are available for Windows Mobile devices -- an estimated 18,000. But the launch of an app store isn't the only way Microsoft is meeting the challenge of a new generation of smartphones. Late last week, Microsoft released a limited beta of its My Phone service, which allows users to sync contacts, calendar appointments, photos and other information between a Windows Mobile phone and a password-protected Web site. My Phone doesn't currently offer a main feature of Apple's MobileMe, the ability to sync personal information between a mobile device and a computer. My Phone, however, will be offered free, up to 200 megabytes on the Microsoft My Phone site. And an update of the Windows Mobile operating system, version 6.5, is expected to be released soon. Industry observers expect it will offer an updated interface that could challenge the popular interfaces on the iPhone and other new devices. App Store a 'Killer Model' Application stores are rapidly becoming a necessary part of the evolution of the smartphone. In addition to iPhone's App Store, there are centralized stores open or on their way for Android, Palm and other product lines. Third-party apps are helping to create a vibrant ecosystem where smartphone abilities are skyrocketing as the cost for such software falls to single digits or even free. Al Hilwa, a program director at IDC, said the "app-store concept that Apple came up with has been a killer model." He pointed out that mobile users, in particular, are "hurried and running" and, when they need an app, want the easiest possible way to get it. But a key difference for Microsoft, Hilwa noted, is that the apps won't be exclusive to the Microsoft store, as they are with Apple's. This might lessen its impact, he said, but the app store, along with an updating of the Windows Mobile interface and other steps, are the kinds of things Microsoft has to do to "bring its platform up to speed." Hilwa said browser-based apps could, with some exceptions, be cross-platform, whereas many of the current apps are native to a given platform. But, he pointed out, the different platforms don't have a great reason to offer cross-platform apps in their store.   Advertisement  Digital Life 1.   FAA Glitch Causes Air Travel Delays 2.   Call of Duty Is Setting Records 3.   Palm Pixi Is Stylish But Sluggish 4.   Watchmakers Turn to the iPhone 5.   TV on the Go Is a Little Lacking Frugal Twitter-Only Device Offered TwitterPeek doesn't need a data plan. Average Rating: Multimedia E-Reader Unveiled Creative Labs prepares Mediabook. Average Rating: Motorola's Droid Appears Strong Early estimates put sales at 250,000. Average Rating:

Network Security Spotlight

House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software Stung by an embarrassing electronic leak revealing ethics investigations into dozens of lawmakers, Congress moved to prohibit federal employees from using the file-sharing software blamed for the disclosure.   GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses Security weaknesses uncovered in Los Alamos National Laboratory's computer network increase the risk of a classified-information breach, says the Government Accountability Office.   Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week Fortinet plans to go public in an initial public offering, giving investors a chance to tap a network security provider with sales that are expected to grow. The IPO could be valued at $137.5 million or more.

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight

Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.   New Pogoplug 'Personal Cloud' Does Social Networking Cloud Engines has released its newest version of the Pogoplug, a small "multimedia sharing device" that connects hard drives to the Internet and allows a user to access the files remotely.   Apple Tablet Rumored Delayed as Publisher Gears Up There have been so many rumors of an Apple tablet that it has taken on legendary status. But now the legend is being revised with reports of a delay and that a major publisher is getting ready.

Mobile Enterprise Spotlight

Review: $100 Palm Pixi Is Stylish But Sluggish Palm is fighting harder than ever to snag a chunk of the smartphone market, and just six months after releasing the stylish Pre it's back with a lighter, petite and affordable version called the Pixi.   TV on the Go Leaves a Little To Be Desired You have to really love TV to spring for a portable TV like the FLO TV Personal Television. This brand new FLO handheld is a dedicated television you might schlep in addition to a phone.   AT&T Fires Back at Verizon with 'X and V' Commercial AT&T isn't holding back in responding to attacks from Verizon Wireless. After losing a court fight to stop Verizon from airing 3G commercials, AT&T is responding with its own commercial.

Enterprise Technology Spotlight

Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.   Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats Smartphones are increasingly prevalent and adept at handling more tasks, including trading stocks, paying bills, and buying stuff online. That makes them attractive to thieves and hackers.   FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies Hackers are targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients.

Navigation Sci-Tech Today Home/Top News | Computing | Digital Life | Discovery | Space | Innovation | Health | Science News Environment NewsFactor Network Enterprise I.T. Sites NewsFactor Technology News | Enterprise Security Today | CRM Daily NewsFactor Business and Innovation Sites Sci-Tech Today | NewsFactor Business Report NewsFactor Services FreeNewsFeed | Free Newsletters | Free Whitepapers | About NewsFactor Network | How To Contact Us | Article Reprints | Careers @ NewsFactor | Services for PR Pros | Top Tech Wire | How To Advertise Privacy Policy | Terms of Service © Copyright 2000-2009 NewsFactor Network. All rights reserved. Article rating technology by Blogowogo.