14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft released early last week a brand new application for Windows Phone handsets, which is called WindUp. The application allows users to create and share images, videos and messages with their friends.
For your information, here is the application's official description: “create and share fun, temporary messages and media with friends using WindUp. Decide how long a message will last - set it to expire after a time or view limit of your choice.
Set a low limit to 'wind up' your friends as they race to see what you've posted, or set the limit high to make your message last longer. WindUp lets you share pictures, videos and audio snippets, as well as text.”
Many blogs have recently reported that Microsoft is ready to take on Snapchat with this application, but the Redmond-based company has just denied these reports with its own statement.
According to this statement WindUp is indeed a social mobile app that does all the things listed in its description, but it has only been released in Windows Phone Store for “research purposes only.”
Microsoft claims that reason for which WindUp has been released in Windows Phone Store and people can get it for free is to learn how users “create, share and converse about content online.”
Here is part of the official statement issued by Microsoft recently in regards of WindUp application's claims of being a Snapchat competitor:
“WindUp is a mobile application for research purposes only that enables users to share images, videos, text, and audio snippets for a finite period of time, or for a designated number of views, before the content in question is deleted permanently.
The application is designed to enable me and my team to explore patterns of content creation and exchange. It isn’t meant to compete with anyone else’s service, and it isn’t meant for commercial purposes.”
Even though Snapchat is not yet available on Windows Phone platform, users have other alternatives which are highly rated on the Store, such as 6snap app developer by Rudy Huyn.
Although Microsoft does not share the same thoughts as online press, there's a high chance that WindUp may end up as being the first prototype for a future Snapchat-like app to be released by the Redmond-based company.
You can now download WindUp for Windows Phone for free via Windows Phone Store. Keep in mind that the application should be compatible with all devices powered by Windows Phone 8 and up.