skymarket

Microsoft Gives Free Certification for your Windows Mobile Applications

January 20, 2009 | By marios96

In a move that clearly enhance the rumours about SkyMarket being unveiled at Mobile World Congress this February, Microsoft now offers free certification to developers for their Windows Mobile applications.

That means, that Windows Mobile developers can send their applications to Microsoft, to acquire Windows Mobile certification, to have their code signed and have their application listed on the Windows Mobile catalogue (quite possible on SkyMarket as well…).

Quoting the Innovate on Windows Mobile site, where developers can send their application:

Innovate On Windows Mobile is a resource site where partners can learn about building applications on the Windows Mobile platform, get technical assistance from Microsoft while building it, and have the completed application tested and certified for market jointly with Microsoft.

Within this site, you will find four stages that can help you through the whole process in a step-by-step fashion. We will provide links to resources, training, and information within those four stages.

This is a good sign. If Microsoft gives services that used to cost up to $800 for free, Microsoft must have high hopes for their new application store.

UPDATE: Innovate on Windows Mobile is back online. More information and registration procedures can be found here.

Via: MsMobiles

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Neowin – Windows Mobile 6.5, Skyline, Skybox and Skymarket coming at MWC

January 19, 2009 | By Surur

Neowin, quoting unnamed sources close to Microsoft, is claiming Mobile World Congress (February 16-19th), will not only be bringing Windows Mobile 6.5, but also a slew of Microsoft services rumoured previously to the Windows Mobile platform.

“SkyBox” is a service for users to sync a phones information with the web. Microsoft will be offering automatic backup and restore services, access and management of phone data and provide easy communication and sharing with others. The service will also allow syncing of contacts, email/SMS, calendar items and pictures into the cloud. Neowin adds a new detail, not rumoured previously, that this service will be available not only on Windows Mobile, but also for other phone OS’s.

“SkyLine” will be aimed at small businesses. Offering similar functionality to SkyBox, businesses will be able to setup their phones with Microsoft’s Exchange hosting with their own domain names.

“SkyMarket” is Microsoft’s mobile marketplace, a competitor to Apple’s AppStore and RIM’s Blackberry application center.

Neowin also claims that their sources confirm the leaked screenshots from earlier this year are in fact real, despite being panned for having icons stolen from the Apple OSX desktop, and that they represent design concepts.

Looks like we do have quite a bit to look forward to in a months time after all.

Skyline, Skymarket and SkyBox – MS takes on MobileMe, BES

August 31, 2008 | By Surur

Taking the lead from Mr Zheng from istartedsomething.com, I have taken a good look around Microsoft’s job postings, and have revealed a whole raft of projects by Microsoft to retake the mobile initiative from RIM and Apple.

From reading about 20 job postings, it seems Skyline is a business focused service which will integrate Microsoft-hosted Exchange-like services to consumers and small businesses. This will be Microsoft’s attempt to directly gain subscription revenue from mobile consumers, much like RIM thrives on subscription revenue from their 15 million captive users. It will also integrate other MobileMe-like value added services and leverage existing Microsoft properties like Hotmail and surrounding services.

Integral that that is Skybox, which is server-based technology, definitely all about the cloud, and from the name I can only assume involved online storage.

Of course, after istartedsomething.com’s scoop, we now know Skymarket is an online market place modeled on the App store from the iPhone.

Now such an initiative may seem like it would take years to get to fruition, but the team dedicated to developing the services are using agile development methods and plan to go from conception to delivery in less than 12 months.

What seems to be missing from this bundle is any services based on entertainment and media, but hopefully the promised Zune/Windows Mobile integration will take care of that.

As usual, it seems all it takes is some good competition to stir the giant. I look forward to see where all these great initiatives are going.

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