As if Apple didn’t already have enough competition to worry about with the growing number of applications that Android has been securing over the years, it now seems that they will have to be concerned with another “new” rival. I don’t mean new in the sense that the company is a start up, and everyone that follows Apple knows that Microsoft is one of their biggest threats.
However, (pending that rumors are true) this would be the first time that Microsoft has had their “own” App store, as the company usually operated off of Android’s already impressive line up of established developers and applications. We have been hearing rumors for some time now about Microsoft joining the mobile development race, but news suggests that this rumor is an all-to-real fact, and that Microsoft will be entering this market much sooner than anticipated.
A variety of sources announced today that the Windows 8 “Application Store” is accepting independently developed apps and creations. This is obviously an attempt for the company to create a massive playground of applications prior to the launch of their shiny new OS, and they want to give mobile developers “time” to fill the ranks. Microsoft Partner Ted Dworkin made the following statement concerning the growth of Microsoft’s newest endeavor:
“We’ve seen a great increase in both the number and diversity of apps – all during our preview milestones, before broad availability of the OS and before even the first production Windows 8 PC is in the market. Throughout the Windows Store preview stages, we’ve seen fantastic interest from individual developers, large development houses, and component and service providers.”
The “App Store” is currently open to all types of developers in over 120 markets and is slotted to appeal to anyone and everyone who wants to create an app. Normally you have to purchase and use extensive and expensive tool kits to develop Microsoft products, but the company is helping to give all developers a chance by giving them “free access” to development for a year (pending they join something called the MSDN, or Microsoft Development Network).
The new Windows 8 operating system is expected to drop sometime in late October, and it’s projected that it will be widely available on every product that Microsoft has to offer. This could be a big shakeup for Apple, who has recently been hurting Android with its impressive line up of Apps that were only available on its own products. If Microsoft manages to secure some of its own dedicated creators though, things might become a little more evenly spread.
Photo Credit: Microsoft
