14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows Marketplace for Mobile is one of the new services that Redmond-based software company Microsoft plans on making available for the owners of a handset based on its Windows Mobile operating system starting with October 6. Initially said to come on Windows Mobile 6.5 only, the Marketplace will also be available for WM 6.0 and WM 6.1. Only that it will come to them later.
According to a recent article on pocketnow, Microsoft said the following when it comes to this matter: “Additional details on using Windows Marketplace from a phone running Windows Mobile 6.0 or 6.1 will be provided by the end of the year. Stay tuned.” Basically, this means that, while Windows Mobile 6.5-based devices will enjoy access to the software portal starting with their official launch date, October 6, those running under the older iterations of the platform will see it later on, probably by the end of the year.
The availability of the Marketplace for users of Windows Mobile 6.0 or 6.1 is a great deal not only for them, but for Microsoft as well. There are about 30 million people that use the older flavors of the OS at the moment, as WMPoweruser notes, and that number attracts more developers into building applications for the Marketplace.
For what it's worth, no all is lost. Although the delay is an inconvenience to many, availability is still ahead, and all mobile phone users who own a device based on Windows Mobile 6.x will enjoy access to the storefront. Microsoft is working on enhancing the experience it can deliver to these users, and the availability of this service for them is one step it has to make in this regard. Watch this space to learn more on when and how the Marketplace will come to the older Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 platforms.