SlashGear Japan
One of the reasons the iPhone and iPod Touch are so popular, is because of the hefty App Store. There has been some significant conversations out on the web about whether or not mobile media devices releasing from this point on will survive in the market without having their own version of Apple’s App Store, and now that Microsoft’s Zune HD is on the precipice of release, people are wondering whether or not the Zune HD can move on from being just another Personal Music Player (PMP), and navigate into the lucrative world of mobile media.
And it looks like Microsoft might be wondering the same thing. According to one iPhone developer, who manufactures an unnamed Twitter application for Apple’s device, he was offered to move under Microsoft’s wing if he would “port his application to a Microsoft platform”, with the assertion that “buckets of money” would be his compensation. The developer said that Microsoft’s plans weren’t clear at the time, but he’s positive that it was for the Zune HD and not just Windows Mobile. And while Microsoft has been open about wanting to bring over developer’s from Apple’s App Store to develop for Windows Mobile, this is the first indication that they are taking the Zune HD seriously, especially for its media, interconnectivity, and entertainment potential.
Microsoft had recently filed for a trademark for the title OneApp, and has hinted more than once at the possibility of Windows Mobile and the Zune software could be combined in some way. It’s possible, considering that both platforms are designed based on Windows CE, so there wouldn’t be much of a change needed. And while it may not be bribing on Microsoft’s part, considering that the “buckets of money” could have been referencing the idea that Zune HD will sell loads of devices, and the application would potentially bring in “buckets of money”. But it sure seems like Microsoft is just about ready to do anything to get iPhone developers over to their side. And who could blame them? With what the Zune HD is capable of, giving it the strength of an application store would only make it that much better.
[via Electronista]
4 Responses to “Apple App Developers Being Bribed to Trade Over to the Microsoft Zune HD?”
mjdinsmore August 14, 2009
“Bribed” to “trade over” to Microsoft? It sounds like like getting incentives for porting applications to the MS platform. What’s so newsworthy of that? If they follow the same revenue share with developers on the MS platform as Apple, then there would be ‘piles of money’ as long as the app sells. This is how things work.
NeutralChris Davies August 14, 2009
Perhaps you’re right and it is all semantics, but from the reports I’ve read the developer felt it wasn’t a case of Microsoft pointing out how much money they could make for coding for Zune HD, but an initial incentive to encourage the switch.
Neutraljbelkin August 14, 2009
This is Ms playbook sine the 1980’s and as they say about generals fighting old wars but pre -internet, you could buy up distributors or even lock up PC makers but now with the internet, it’s much harder but of course, when MS faces a declining marketshare, they just throw cash at it ($4 billion search in 2 years) – since MS shareholders don’t care that, why should the employees? But it’s like MS found out with XBox 360 – they bought or locked up deals with a lot of jpanese software manufactures because that was their weakness with the original Xbox except that unlike buying a distribution channel – a new multi BILLION dollar markets can just pop up like the internet (casual games) or the iPhone (a guy in a garage) where the cost of entry is essentially nil while MS is battling the LAST BATTLE and by the time they get they get to the new one like introducing a touch screen 2 YEARS AFTER Apple. So, they will lock up creators of games NOW but is the sequel of Rolando or Little Gods going to sell as well (as examples) or will it be some unknown kid in a garage … but that’s MS – the DMV of technology – anywhere from 2-8 years behind the competition and their only solution – throw money at it … but when Win7 sells as well as Vista (nothing wrong with Win7 but pay $299 to run it on a $399 computer, bwwhahahaha), and Office revenue starts drying up, MS will be dead in 8 years – like polaroid, they will still sell server software and an OS to run jiffy lube terminals but some India or Chinese company will license the name to sell hologram Leia & luke watches.
NeutralEvan Selleck August 14, 2009
I mentioned the notion that “buckets of money” could mean the end result of selling an app with Microsoft, on the Zune HD, to give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt. But to be honest, as Chris added, it looks like Microsoft went to the developer and offered him money to transfer his development skills over to Microsoft. In which case, it would be bribery, and if that’s what Microsoft is planning on doing for the majority of developers already stationed at other platforms, it may be an interesting development cycle for the Zune HD.
Neutral