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Having just mentioned Windows Marketplace for Mobile as an aside to Apple's 1.5bn App Store downloads, we've now a little more information regarding developers' access to the store and one which devices it will run.  At the Worldwide Partner Conference this week, Microsoft have announced that mobile app submissions will be accepted from July 27th. Contrary to initial reports that the Marketplace would run solely on Windows Mobile 6.5 devices and above, Microsoft have also confirmed that the download store will be available on WM6.0 and 6.1 by the end of 2009.  Given the number of devices in circulation running WM6.1 alone, and uncertainties about which smartphones will be eligible for 6.5 upgrades, that certainly makes sense for widening Microsoft's user base. Read The Full Story

Microsoft have announced their twelve commandments for their Windows Marketplace for Mobile download store, and they seem to have taken a leaf out of Apple's book.  The new list [pdf link] concerns itself with "prohibited application types", and as well as the perhaps expected software - carrier-unfriendly VoIP, anything that secretly shares the user's data or GPS position - there's also some bad news for Handango and other software download services. Interestingly, now that Microsoft have finally stepped into the on-device app distribution arena, they're keen to make sure users stay within their service.  Although the company has previously confirmed that other software download systems are welcome to develop and release rival app-stores, rules one and two are that software must not "distribute alternate marketplaces" or "promote alternate marketplaces".  Similar, Microsoft are keen to get their slice of the licensing pie, with rule three forbidding apps that direct buyers to an external page for payment. Full list after the cut Read The Full Story