Microsoft job listing hints at App Store-like 'Skymarket' for Windows Mobile

While Apple's App Store was far from being the first of its kind, we're now seeing a job posting over in the Redmond area that suggests that Microsoft is looking to produce something similar for its Windows Mobile platform. The news comes hot on the heels of Google's own Android Market announcement, and if the Product Manager position writeup is to be believed, said platform will be christened Skymarket. Described as a "marketplace service for Windows Mobile," Skymarket could seemingly be a critical part of WinMo 7. But don't take our word for it, the proof is the pudding -- or in the read link, in this instance.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[Yay. @ Aug 31st 2008 11:10PM]

In similar news: using small images for icons is an iPhone-like trait.

[James @ Aug 31st 2008 11:22PM]

I'm confused, what's that got to do with anything? Serious of sarcastic?

[letstakeawalk @ Aug 31st 2008 11:25PM]

Icons are small images by their very definition. They've been used since the times of the ancient Greeks to quickly provide symbolic information.

[JohnTitor @ Aug 31st 2008 11:35PM]

where do I get that WinMo theme?

[deep @ Aug 31st 2008 11:44PM]

@JohnTitor

The same place WinMo did... from Apple.

[iofthestorm @ Aug 31st 2008 11:56PM]

Seriously, I think the obvious software marketplace that predates the App Store would be XBLM, or something. On a related note, it seems like the XBox division is the division of Microsoft with the most positive mindshare ATM, so they should try to leverage that and use the Live branding in more places, such as this, and maybe even work out some sort of system where stuff on XBL transfers over to your WM powered phone, although that would require two versions of each program.

[Surur @ Sep 1st 2008 2:22AM]

Interesting that that WM7 screen shot shows Sliding Panels, which was what MS added to WM6.1 for smartphone. They have mentioned this was one of the technologies they brought forward from WM7, and the screenshots prove it.

BTW, for the rest of the scoop, on not just Skymarket, but also Skyline and Skybox, see http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=821 .

[ZSX @ Sep 1st 2008 5:56AM]

There are loads of Windows Mobile 7 themes over on xda-devs. Here are two:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=392985
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=407487

[gad get @ Aug 31st 2008 11:10PM]

Skymarket? Sounds sci-fi-ish.

[dennis @ Sep 1st 2008 12:50AM]

Sounds like Sky Mall, the catalog of crap you see on airplanes.

[nanobis @ Sep 1st 2008 4:20AM]

You sure MS and google aren't tryin to set up SKYNet, Just that the name is already taken.

[grull27 @ Aug 31st 2008 11:11PM]

Competition is great for the customer!

[roole @ Aug 31st 2008 11:16PM]

Generally, true.

How so in this case? Where's the competition?

[computer.dude.28 @ Aug 31st 2008 11:24PM]

roole:
I would assume that Apple, with the "App Store" would be the competition to the "App Store-like" Skymarket.

[JohnTitor @ Aug 31st 2008 11:34PM]

competition? so you tellin me I can use the App Store on WinMo and SkyMarket on iphone?

even if you could this isn't really competition, a store is just a place to get new programs, maybe the programs compete with each other but I don't see store applications themselves doin that, the only reason microsoft is doing the skymarket is to give awareness to all the WinMo apps out there, probably the most for any mobile platform but not everyone knows about that, where as iphone and android users have easy access to their warez

[GenoMalice @ Aug 31st 2008 11:34PM]

not really competition since both services are marketed to different devices/worlds and iphone user cannot go and use microsofts skymarket... so in essence theres no competition just copy-cat tactics

[ByronGman @ Aug 31st 2008 11:38PM]

Got that right!

I am really excited to see what happens with Windows 7 & 8; a centralized market place would definitely be an awesome addition.

I know this is a little off topic but did anyone ever notice the hint at Zune integration in the last big engadget WiMo 7 Post?

http://www.engadget.com/photos/is-this-windows-mobile-7/561244/

It would be freaking awesome if every Windows Mobile phone became a Zune.... as long as Verizon and the gang didn't decide to cripple out that feature for their own music stores. :-X

[Abuzar Baloach @ Sep 1st 2008 12:23AM]

What would be smart for Microsoft would be to ditch the Zune branding and go with Xbox for every media related thing they have. I love my Zune, but people would relate to it more if it said Xbox something. And then Integrate Xbox Live and Xbox Media into the Windows Mobile OS.

[loosely_coupled @ Sep 1st 2008 5:53AM]

Wow --- quick, everybody look --- two individuals shameless enough to admit they actually own a Zune.

[vdogg89 @ Sep 1st 2008 10:10AM]

I would have to say that this isn't in response to apple's app store, but they are fearing Google's app store

[roole @ Sep 1st 2008 1:17PM]

Yeah, @computer.dude.28, "App-store-like SkyMarket" is competition like Zune is competition to iPod. Heh heh. I look forward to your post here alerting me to when that happens.

S-n-o-r-e.

[ByronGman @ Sep 2nd 2008 2:10AM]

@ loosely_coupled


I actually don't know a Zune....

The device is enticing... but I also am looking to buy a smartphone for the first time... so I would prefer an all-in-one device.


The idea of being able to carry over a Zune library to ANY WinMo 7 phone really appeals to me... I like choices, you know?

[Jim @ Sep 1st 2008 9:01AM]

is it me, or is skymarket a little too close to skynet :)

[Joe Blow @ Aug 31st 2008 11:16PM]

Slow news day, eh Engadget?

[computer.dude.28 @ Aug 31st 2008 11:22PM]

Slow comment day, eh Joe Blow?

[indeed @ Aug 31st 2008 11:39PM]

I think it's newsworthy. Microsoft should've done this long time ago, there are so many (and great) apps for WinMo
It's good to know they'll make them acessible like Apple did with theirs

[roole @ Aug 31st 2008 11:15PM]

Poor MSFT.

So much cash. So little use for it.

[giuliop @ Sep 1st 2008 9:18AM]

It's not hard to imagine a typical day at Microsoft:

Manager1: Whoa! Have you seen that? Let's copy it and make it worse! All the more because we have a fraction of that market, and we have no idea how to do that!
(Ballmer in the background, chanting and jumping back and forth: DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS)
Manager2: Yes! And let's change the location of pretty much everything in the next version of Office and Windows, so users can't find anything anymore!
(DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS)
Manager3: Let's get rid of menus! They've been around for so much time, people are too used to them! Random new things FTW!
(DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS)
Manager1: Cool! But be sure to implement thousands of new useless features and add loads of bugs in the process!
(DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS)
Ballmer, recovering briefly: All you're doing is good, but Microsoft needs to try and waste money in other sectors instead of concentrating on its core business, which is the sole source of our income. Let's compete with Google! Let's but Yahoo! Let's bang our head on the wall!
All together: YES!!! BRICKLAYERS BRICKLAYERS BRICKLAYERS BRICKLAYERS!

[Quix @ Aug 31st 2008 11:20PM]

Microsoft: The Freedom To Innovate (TM)

[fred @ Aug 31st 2008 11:22PM]

"While Apple's App Store was far from being the first of its kind"

let's burn all the bastards! /s

[Decoy @ Sep 1st 2008 2:50AM]

The iPhone app store is the first app store of it's kind ... made by Apple.

And if that's all you focus on, any app store (or touchscreen interface, or mp3 player, or whatever) is therefore a copy.

[computer.dude.28 @ Aug 31st 2008 11:21PM]

That would be great! It's so hard to find up-to-date versions of good, compatible windows mobile software.

[Leindurstit @ Aug 31st 2008 11:32PM]

It's hard to select "check for new version" third-party software?

[deyanimay @ Sep 1st 2008 12:37AM]

Actually some programs check when you launch them and ask if you want to update.

[Daniel @ Aug 31st 2008 11:26PM]

If it's anything like SkyMall, count me in!

[Yevon @ Aug 31st 2008 11:33PM]

I would rather be bludgeoned to death with a dildo than have SkyMall embedded into my next phone. Although, their USB garden gnome is rather tempting...

[Haikibutsu @ Sep 1st 2008 12:18AM]

Wait for the TF2 scout update

http://kotaku.com/5035750/we-hope-this-isnt-the-scouts-new-weapon

[rotarydialz @ Sep 1st 2008 12:42AM]

It's no surprise that microsoft is late to this party.

[Kspraydad @ Sep 1st 2008 12:54AM]

The interface you see goes back to patents in 2005 ... they might be last out the gate but I'm sure they started before some others.

[Decoy @ Sep 1st 2008 2:53AM]

What party? Buying and selling? Or do you think Apple invented commerce?

[Bleck @ Aug 31st 2008 11:37PM]

I expect Windows Mobile 7 to be a substantial update to the Windows Mobile line. So much that I think they should just rename it. Calling it Windows Mobile might do a dis service.

[Jeremy S @ Aug 31st 2008 11:41PM]

OH NO!!! SKYNET!

[Wormbolt @ Aug 31st 2008 11:43PM]

You're missing how little time and effort goes in to some of these items.

[Hiro @ Aug 31st 2008 11:54PM]

Isn't that the catalog full of weird crap they have in airplanes?
Well, makes sense then.

[Sam Zebian @ Aug 31st 2008 11:54PM]

I'm hoping this becomes a reality, because I got the Iphone 3g to replace my tilt until windows mobile became a little more like the iphone (in terms of browser capabilities, ease of use, etc.) and until some awesome handset would be running windows mobile 7, like the Sony experia x1, which is now delayed (and I almost waited with my tilt to get that thing, but the tilt is impossible to use), which hopefully means by the time the uber-phone comes out, it may be running winmo 7!

[Vagrant @ Sep 1st 2008 1:14AM]

The device you may possibly want, is coming sooner, rather than later.
HTC Touch Pro: http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=49534

With the X1, the higher resolution isn't necessarily a good thing due to the physical screen size. I mean, so you might possibly fit a whole web page on the screen, but you'll still have to zoom in to read it.

I do hear your plight though, loud and clear. I carry an iPhone (1st Gen) to browse photos, videos and web, but the Tilt is still my go-to phone for now. The Touch Pro looks like it might finally be the convergence device. Take a look at the demo features on the above link.

The one thing I enjoy with the iPhone is being able to use my thumb to enter in text. While I like the keyboard functionality of the Tilt, I don't always want to use two hands, or simply don't have two hands free. It looks like that problem may have been answered with the Touch Pro. There are still some things I don't like about it, but if will allow me to carry once device instead of two...I'm sold.

[iofthestorm @ Aug 31st 2008 11:57PM]

Also, what's up with the iphone link?

[Kspraydad @ Aug 31st 2008 11:57PM]

Wouldn't LIVE Market make more sense...that way it would have apps for Zune, Xbox, WinMo etc all in one place...the site could just auto adjust its content to the device you are accessing with but would have design and function cues that were consistent on all platforms?

Just a thought.

[Kelmon @ Sep 1st 2008 3:07AM]

Agreed but I suspect they are trying to show that you can access this store over the air (presumably WiFi and cellular). Whether this is important for the customer to know is up for debate.

[sit2k @ Sep 1st 2008 12:10AM]

in other news iphone stole the icon button idea from original palm devices. also in other news apple took their head out of their lorals and added an sd card slot.. seems thats a winmo trait.

more breaking news it has been revealed that apple has copied everyones idea and the only real idea that they came up with is the multi touch screen.. it seems that the icon button idea has been around for many years..

in other news apple has thrown 1000's of commercial for their iphone and hoping to reach 10 million sales and winmo has very few commercials and non on tv (unlike iphone) has sold a disappointing 18 million licenses (ms projected 20 million).

in more breaking news, real users of pda's cannot seem to change the way iphones look but have found it incredibly easy to configure wino to their liking on a daily basis if need be.