Disqus
Although Windows Phone 7 will be lacking in copy and paste, they will have a few interesting features for developers at launch. In order to avoid a bunch of duplicate apps in their Marketplace, Microsoft is implementing at licensing API that allows developers to include free trial versions of their apps. I remember this used to be a big problem in the BlackBerry App World before they consolidated everything. iTunes seems to have gone the other way, providing clear filters for free and paid apps, although in-app purchases do allow some expandability. The nice thing about Windows Phone’s particular setup is that upgrading from a trial to a premium app doesn’t require any additional downloads – the full app is already installed, and the added functions go live as soon as the transaction is processed. Functionality and time are just some of the limits that can be placed on a trial version.
That sounds like some good flexibility for developers – I wonder if payment options will be equally helpful. Nobody has managed to successfully pull off the subscription method yet, which I think would earn Windows Phone 7 more than a few high-end apps. Windows Phone 7 is still being seeded with developers, but we should see supporting hardware in the market by Q4
[via istartedsomething]
About The Author
Simon Sage
Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.
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Jan
