Superior apps search Windows phone 7-United States Today

When it comes to supplying the coolest smartphones on the planet, Microsoft has long been an also-ran. So last autumn, giant software fired up a fresh strategy to close the gap on Apple's iPhones, BlackBerrys and Motion's research in Google's Android models. Jason DeCrow, Microsoft

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveils the new Windows phone 7 series during an event in October last year in New York.

Jason DeCrow, Microsoft

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveils the new Windows phone 7 series during an event in October last year in New York.

Microsoft's goal is for Windows phone 7 (WP7) smartphones that have the most useful and user friendly applications. The company pursues methodical this goal by catering to the best and brightest app developers. "The jury is still out on whether this turns out to be a decisively winning strategy, ' says software programs analyst Al Hilwa at research firm IDC. "But Microsoft has certainly begun to correct its course".Smartphone apps have been almost as important as the actual phone. The possible on the road to shop, play games, plan their lives and connect to social media.Free apps to do trivial tasks, several hundred thousand iPhones and Androids. More crucial market for higher paid apps of quality — which help people use their phones more as internet-connected computing devices — more than doubled to $ 2.2 billion in 2010, up from $ 828 million in 2009, according to research firm iSuppli. Apple dominates the paid apps marketwith a global market share of 82.7%. The RIM is a distant second, with a market share of 7.7%. Microsoft credit? t even register.You can play computer experiences, Microsoft last October dumped its clunky Windows Mobile operating system and launched an entirely new platform, WP7, plays for one of its nuclear forces: close relationships with top software developers.The company took its.NET framework — a system of family planning policy, development of business applications for Windows server and desktop computers — and grafted it to WP7. Just four months have 25,000 developers registered to create WP7 apps. They have created 8000 apps and is kærning out new apps on average 100 per day, said Larry Lieberman, Microsoft senior product manager. Early successes includes deep integration of social networking sites Facebook and Twitter and Netflix movie service, which users can gain access to these popular services from WP7? s main dashboard without opening a separate app. "Many developers experience that it takes a (much) less time to build similar programs to our phone than the other phones," says Lieberman. last month, Amazon released an app that lets shoppers show content in a continuous stream of reservation guarantees left-to-right on the screen of a WP7 handset. If you want to do the same on an iPhone or Android, you must open and close the new pages.Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of location-based, check-in service Loopt, raves about the help he received create an app, users can quickly find friends who may be nearby. Loopt's app only on WP7 Start with minimal fussing. "They went out of their way to help us with everything we need," says Altman. "No doubt, to the attention of developers is certainly a good Move."Lieberman acknowledge that Microsoft still has a long way to go. In the fourth quarter of 2010, Android operating system commanded a was 32.6% market share of handsets shipped globally, followed by Nokia? s Symbian platform with a 30.3% share, according to IDC. Apple and rim is followed with a share of 16% and 14.4%, respectively. Microsoft had a market share of 3,8%.However, Microsoft recently forged a partnership with Nokia. "It is now a three-horse race," declared Nokia CEO Stephen Elop on London Press Conference Announces Alliance. Nokia and Microsoft face a complex challenge provides a new line of WP7 smartphones, can Grab attention away from Androids, iPhones and BlackBerrys, says Forrester analyst Charles Golvin. One thing seems certain: keeping top app developers committed will be crucial. "Firms must convince the developers to increase the priority of the Windows phone 7 as they bring innovative products to the market," said Golvin. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit our FAQ. Report corrections and clarifications, contact standards Editor Brent Jones. Publication consideration in the newspaper, sending comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, telephone number, city and State for verification. View our corrections, go to corrections. usatoday.com. We updated conversation guidelines. Changes include a short review of the moderation process and an explanation of how you can use the button "report abuse". Read more.

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