14 DAY TRIAL // Hot on the heels of Apple delivering the iPhone App Store, Microsoft has inaugurated the Windows Mobile Applications Portal. Under the slogan "Do more", the new destination for users of Windows Mobile powered devices have access to a consistent collection of solutions via the new Silverlight website. However, the software giant's Windows Mobile Application fails to come close to the iPhone App Store in a variety of aspects from design to usability, marketing, and so on. But the bottom line is that the Windows Mobile Applications portal is not set up as a competitor for the iPhone App Store.
"We've just launched a very cool Silverlight based Portal for Windows Mobile applications. The initial focus of this site is on business applications," revealed Jason Langridge, Senior Marketing Manager, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division.
But despite presenting the invitation to "Do more," users should not expect a bunch of resources capable of revolutionizing the Windows Mobile operating system. The website itself feels half baked and experimental, and it is aimed at the EMEA region. There are various design inconsistencies, but the most obvious is the unnecessary gap separating the Silveright content from the Footer.
"Bring out the best in your people," reads a message on the website. "With Microsoft Windows Mobile applications, your employees make the most of every moment, wherever they are." Well, there is no doubt that the applications do take Windows Mobile one step further. That is if users are able to find them.
First off, Microsoft fails to provide any search functionality for the applications, and navigating via the carousel menu is a painfully slow experience bound to get users discouraged real fast. When it comes down to actually presenting the programs, the multimedia advantages brought by Silverlight work perfectly to complement the information delivered about the applications. And in the end, users are redirected to the websites of the developers in order to access the solutions they are interested in.