Microsoft’s Windows Phone is getting ready for a massive update this fall to their anticipated “Mango” OS. There’ll be over 500 new features, some of which include the improved Live tiles, better integration with social networks, multitasking and Internet Explorer 9 (see full details here). As for Canadian devices, the Bell LG Optimus Quantum, Rogers Samsung Focus, TELUS HTC 7 Surround and LG Optimus 7 will all be able to upgrade to Mango when it officially launches. So it’s nice to see Microsoft keeping current WP7 users happy.
Another milestone for Windows Phone is their Marketplace, this is now on the cusp of hitting the 30,000 app mark. It was only at the end of May that they confirmed 17,000 apps, but developers have been working hard and releasing new apps. Over the past couple months notable apps such as Angry Birds, Kik Messenger and Poynt have been popular. According to Windows Phone App List they are listing a total of 29,826 available apps, Games category leads the way with 17% of total apps, followed by Books & Reference (14%) and Tools & Productivity (14%). In addition, 12,355 are free apps while 13,688 are paid apps. No indication of what the average cost per paid app is.
Most likely Microsoft will cross over the 30,000 app mark over the next couple days. Developers who were making apps for webOS seemed to have embraced the recent Tweet by Microsoft’s Senior Director of Windows Phone 7 development, Brandon Watson, encouraging them to give WP7 a go. Apparently over 1,000 new developers sign up.
Source: WindowsPhoneAppList
(Thanks Steve!)
