Windows Phone Marketplace Now Hosts Over 5,000 Apps

Considering the fast pace at which new applications are added to the Windows Phone Marketplace, the fact that it managed to reach the 5,000 apps milestone in just two months after launch does not come too much as a surprise for some, thought it offers a reason to rejoice to enthusiasts.

Softpedia readers have certainly spotted our previous mentioning on the fact that the Windows Phone Marketplace was on track to pass the mark before the end of the ongoing year, and it seems that it has already managed to do so.

According to the latest stats published on WP7Applist.com, the storefront is now home to almost 5100 apps, and more of them are expected to arrive in the near future.

When compared to other application portals out there, the speed at which Microsoft's store is growing seems pretty impressive. Launched with around 1,000 apps on October 20th, the portal added 3,000 new items in about six weeks, and grew by 1,000 more in the past two weeks or so.

For comparison purposes, we should note that the Android Market needed about half a year to reach this milestone, while the previous version of the Windows Phone Marketplace never actually arrived there, although it is over one year old.

All in all, things are looking good for all those involved in the equation, including end-users, application developers and, of course, Microsoft and their phone manufacturing partners.

In addition to offering info on the number of applications added to the Windows Phone Marketplace, WP7Applist.com provides details on other statistics as well.

For example, it should be mentioned that, out of 5,000 apps available for Windows Phone 7 devices, only 28 percent are free, while the average price tag for the paid ones is $2.20. Among the paid solutions, most of them sport a cost of $0.99.

When it comes down to application types, it appears that games account for 22 percent of all software solutions in the Marketplace, followed by tools and entertainment applications.

Microsoft's has shown a great focus on enhancing the developer experience for those interested in building applications for its new Windows Phone 7 operating system, and it seems that the company's efforts are starting to pay off.

However, the Windows Phone Marketplace still has a long road to walk before nearing the Android Market, currently said, unofficially, to house over 200,000 apps, or Apple's App Store, which has passed the 300,000 apps mark.