14 DAY TRIAL // The number of mobile applications available for the owners of Windows Phone 7-based mobile phones through the Windows Phone Marketplace is ever expanding, with a number of no less than 2,000 new software added within the past two weeks alone.
On March 14th, we reported on the availability of no less than 10,000 applications in the Windows Phone Marketplace, as showed in the WP7AppList, and it seems that the number has already increased well over the 12k mark (via WMPowerUser).
All in all, this comes as great news for users of a Windows phone 7 device, since they now have even more options available for them when it comes to downloading and installing software.
With over 30k registered developers set to deliver applications for the mobile operating system, it does not come too much as a surprise that the number of apps in the storefront is increasing fast.
Provided that the Marketplace would grow at the same rate, we should see it reaching the 20,000 apps mark within two months, or even faster.
Of all applications in the Marketplace, about one third would be free software. The app portal also offers a wide range of trial apps, so that users can learn more on the software before making a purchase.
With an ever expanding application environment behind, we should not be surprised if the Windows Phone 7 operating system managed to become one of the top three platforms on the smartphone market in the next few years.
The recently signed agreement with Nokia would provide further help in this direction, offering Microsoft the possibility to become once again one of the major players on the mobile phone OS market.
According to some of the analyst reports, the Windows Phone Marketplace would indeed manage to become the third app storefront in the near future.
Moreover, some recent reports suggest that the Windows Phone platform would manage to rise to the second position on the market in the next five years or so.