Microsoft trademark application hints at cross-platform "OneApp" app store

Microsoft's attention may now be focused on Windows Marketplace, but a recently filed trademark application seems to suggest that the company could maybe, possibly have something even bigger in store for the future. As noted by istartedsomething, Microsoft is going after the name "ONEAPP" (or "One Application"), which it describes as a trademark for "online retail store services facilitating the download of computer software for use on mobile phones, media players and other portable electronic devices." Now, putting two and two together, that would seem to indicate that Windows Mobile phones and devices like the Zune HD would not only share a single branded app store, but the actual apps as well -- which isn't so much of a stretch, if not for the fact that Microsoft has already invested itself so heavily in Windows Marketplace. Then again, it could very well be just yet another name that Microsoft likes but has no real intention of using.

[Via istartedsomething, thanks Chris]

[aaron @ Jul 15th 2009 4:46PM]

Would be an awesome idea to have a cross platform app store.... maybe even eventually bring it to the xbox360 as well.

[gouken85 @ Jul 15th 2009 4:49PM]

If there was a zune exclusive store, it would be a flop. No developer would build apps for such a small audience.
I always assumed they were going to do a cross-platform store.

[bondsbw @ Jul 15th 2009 4:58PM]

This isn't really "cross-platform" unless you're talking about the apps working with non-Microsoft operating systems.

[bondsbw @ Jul 15th 2009 5:00PM]

I take that back... I guess you *could* call it cross-platform...

But you would also have to call Apple's app store cross-platform, since those apps work with multiple Apple devices (iPhone and iPod Touch).

[ilovethewaggle @ Jul 15th 2009 5:03PM]

the iphone and ipod touch are the same device, one just lacks a $120/month commitment.

[Mark @ Jul 15th 2009 5:04PM]

@gouken85: Well, far more zunes have been sold than android devices but there're 5,000 apps on that marketplace(including many of the big names) so I'm not sure that's entirely accurate.

[where u at? @ Jul 15th 2009 5:43PM]

@Mark

How long have zunes been available to consumers compared to android devices?

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 15th 2009 5:45PM]

Developers are kicking out apps because they know there are more brands and carriers with upcoming Android devices. The sales figures are estimated to jump tremendously. With Zune... you're still dealing with one company, sales just trudging along... no big announcements on the horizon. Android has Verizon coming up along with several other phone companies. I read that T-Mobile is claiming over a million sales of the G1 but I can't seem to find hard evidence anywhere. When Verizon launches, statistically that number should skyrocket. I'm not sure where you are getting your numbers from, but Wikipedia has 2 mill for the old Zune from last year. Again though... there's just not the same hype behind the Zune as there is Android.

[John @ Jul 15th 2009 6:21PM]

Well, with the Zune you can develop with XNA which has a pretty nice SDK, and it is cross platform to the 360.

[bondsbw @ Jul 15th 2009 6:23PM]

ilovethewaggle: "the iphone and ipod touch are the same device"

Apple chose to use the same UI for both its devices. Microsoft chose not to (yet... that's supposedly in the works). The underlying OS is still basically the same for Zune and WinMo.

So my question still stands: how is this special? How is this more special than running the same apps on both Windows XP and Windows 7, or on Tiger and Snow Leopard, or even on WinMo 5 and WinMo 6?

[gouken85 @ Jul 15th 2009 4:46PM]

Microsoft needs to draw a line for the phones it will support with the marketplace, or developers will want to cater to the lowest common denominator, and we'll get crappy apps.

[Templarian @ Jul 15th 2009 4:55PM]

I think this is why Windows Mobile 7's minimum specs are the way they are.

On the other hand it will be interesting since the screen resolution is kind of odd.

[kjb434 @ Jul 15th 2009 5:21PM]

That's also why there are two different flavors of Windows Mobile:

Higher power devices utilizing touch screens use WinMo Professional (and likely Zune HD also).

Lower power devices not utilizing touch screen use WinMo Smartphone.

Currently, apps work on both styles of WinMo, but many do specify the need for WinMo Pro because of the touchscreen and high power devices.

I'm guessing you'll get WinMo Smartphone friendly apps along with the Pro ones.

[l3v5y @ Jul 19th 2009 4:17PM]

WM Standard says nothing about processor requirements. It just doesn't utilise touch screens. e.g. older WM6.1 Professional devices are less powerful than the new WM6.1 standard devices

[Dayne @ Jul 15th 2009 4:46PM]

I'm still not sure if I want apps on my Zune.

[Jay Voorhees @ Jul 15th 2009 5:01PM]

Exacatly, why can't my zune just play the music and movies i need it to? I have a laptop and a smartphone for all my other needs. Every device shouldn't have to be the be all end all device.

[Mark @ Jul 15th 2009 5:05PM]

@Jay Voorhees: I'm pretty sure it'll still be able to, it can just do other things now too. Don't use the apps then?

[Dayne @ Jul 15th 2009 5:12PM]

@ Jay

I mean _eventually_ I see everything merging into one; it's not as if I'm not forward looking. Just not yet. Besides, how difficult is it to carry a Zune and a Pre. I can tell you from experience. Not very.

@Mark

I don't want to lose the audio quality or ease of use of the device or even storage size just to use google maps, or to have a compass or whatever.

(hear that microsoft, better be at least 32gb)

[lawyer bird @ Jul 15th 2009 5:25PM]

you know i kind of like the IDEA of convergence of music, video and phone..but in practice i always find it's more of a complication...for example playing music at a party? how are you going to have access to your phone? in the car it's not too bad with bluetooth, but still not ideal..i kind of like having them separate

[Dayne @ Jul 15th 2009 5:44PM]

@lawyer bird

I absolutely agree. The idea is amazing. Practice, not so much. We (as in technology) don't have that figured out just yet. Not to mention abysmal battery life.

[quiksilv3r @ Jul 15th 2009 4:47PM]

Of all the Zune HD pictures out there, you choose this one??

[Tiptup300 @ Jul 15th 2009 10:49PM]

What's wrong with it. It's a picture of the very visually stunning Zune HD.

[James @ Jul 16th 2009 12:11AM]

I dont get how you think this picture is bad. I honestly dont think you can take a bad picture of the zune hd (excluding pictures taken by mr. blurrycam). I really cant wait for the release of this so i can carry 720p movies over to friends houses and not have to worry about to to play them ect.

[wetworker @ Jul 16th 2009 11:39AM]

It's giz, oh sorry it end.
They do this all the time with zune.

[Saad Rabia @ Jul 15th 2009 4:47PM]

Competition; bring it on. :)

[Saad Rabia @ Jul 15th 2009 4:49PM]

Oh, boy, Paul A. Chapel is going to troll all over this article.

[jon @ Jul 15th 2009 6:02PM]

Dude, you couldn't get a chick if you had a $100 bill sticking out of your zipper.

[lxuke @ Jul 15th 2009 4:49PM]

they are only selling one application??? as long as it has boobs it will beat everything in the apple app store by default

[htd @ Jul 15th 2009 4:49PM]

there's even limitation on how many PCs you can install your copy of office on...

[Saad Rabia @ Jul 15th 2009 4:50PM]

Here we go.

[primetime4 @ Jul 15th 2009 4:54PM]

This better sync with my iPhone or I am screaming antitrust lawsuit.

[vansmack @ Jul 15th 2009 5:02PM]

Better talk to Apple then, because it's a hardware limitation, not a software limitation.

MS offered to sync with the iPod years ago...how quickly we forget.

[Sisyphus @ Jul 15th 2009 4:55PM]

Is this the new "FIRST?"

[Dr. Spaceman @ Jul 15th 2009 4:56PM]

One Application vs. 65,000 applications.

Zing!

[Dr. Evil Genius @ Jul 15th 2009 5:02PM]

If Apple has learned nothing else, they have learned that QUANTITY not QUALITY is what makes you better in the eyes of the average American consumer.

[JC @ Jul 15th 2009 5:14PM]

As long as that one app is iFart or iShakaBaby I'm good.

[Dr. Evil Genius @ Jul 15th 2009 4:59PM]

...lets hope not....

[urdaddy @ Jul 15th 2009 5:02PM]

WOW! so you mean Microsoft will have the Windows equivalent to wait for it.... Apple's app store. Microsoft sure is amazing, man they deserve some kind of metal or something for thinking so out of the box. One app store for both their portable media players and phones, get out of here, no way Microsoft is that clever.

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 15th 2009 5:07PM]

Really? Paul does it with so much more flair.

Hang your head in shame.

[Mark @ Jul 15th 2009 5:09PM]

WOW! so you mean Apple made the iPhone equivelent to wait for it... XBox Live Marketplace. Apple sure is amazing, man they deserve some kind of metal or something for thinking so out of the box. An app store for an electronic device/computer, get out of here, no way Apple is that clever.

Maybe now you see why your argument was so ridiculous?

[Dave @ Jul 15th 2009 5:11PM]

ahahahha

no matter how annoying watching people argue to the death over the internet is, paul truly does bring out a hidden humour in anything

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 15th 2009 9:41PM]

some kind of metal? what...like iron, bronze...copper?

its medal u big trolling idiot.

[Phoenix @ Jul 15th 2009 5:06PM]

he's asking if what they're saying is going to repla.... OH FUCK IT I'm not gonna bother

[Dave @ Jul 15th 2009 5:08PM]

@paul

i truly enjoy going to posts and reading ur comments. the arguments/jokes actually entertain me for the portion of time im on engadget... lol

[JC @ Jul 15th 2009 5:13PM]

They all run some flavor of .NET/Xna so why not.

[Dave @ Jul 15th 2009 5:15PM]

uh oh! no royal rumble of sorts? come on, 1 of u terribly wants to start it, and look! there's so many people lined up to watch

[Saad Rabia @ Jul 15th 2009 5:25PM]

You are absolutely right Paul Chapel. I will blog about this right away.

[JWolf @ Jul 15th 2009 5:34PM]

obligatory I can't believe the e in Marketplace is cut off!

[Mark @ Jul 15th 2009 5:35PM]

The ZuneHD is supposed to be thinner than the iPod Touch...

[DBrim @ Jul 15th 2009 5:41PM]

Engadget, can you PLEASE do something about the constant trolling around here? It's a chore to read the comments section now.