Windows Marketplace for Mobile

Windows Marketplace for Mobile, available through applications for Windows Mobile and personal computers, offered a 24-hour return policy for buyers, and 70% of each application sale was paid to developers.{{cite web |url=http://i.gizmodo.com/5199933/giz-explains-all-the-smartphone-mobile-app-stores |title=Giz Explains: All The Smartphone Mobile App Stores |author=Herrman, John |date=2009-04-06 |publisher=Gizmodo |access-date=2009-04-06}} A one-time $99 USD fee for developers to list an unlimited number of paid applications or up to five free applications yearly in the store was charged by Microsoft. After five free applications were listed for the year, each additional free application could be listed for a $19.99 USD fee. Microsoft accepted payment from buyers through credit cards and carrier charges.

Students who were members of Microsoft's DreamSpark program could submit applications to the store for free, waiving the $99 USD fee.

Carriers had the ability to create a branded section of the store to market carrier-specific applications and services for their customers.

Microsoft did not distribute certain types of apps, including those with sexual content, via the Marketplace.{{cite web|url=http://developer.windowsphone.com/resources/en-us/MarketplaceContentPolicies.pdf |title=App Hub - windows phone and xbox live indie games development |publisher=Developer.windowsphone.com |date=2011-05-17 |access-date=2012-02-15}} Banned applications include:

• Sex and nudity – Images that are suggestive or sexual (e.g. sexually provocative touching, bondage) or provocative images that reveal full nudity.
• Any adult or borderline adult content (images or text).
• Content that generally falls under the category of pornography.

Rumors about the service began to surface around the internet in September 2008, whereas it was referred to as "Skymarket", and was to appear with the Windows Mobile 7 release.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/ballmer-windows-mobile-65-phones-are-just-windows-phones.ars |title=Windows Mobile 6.5 UI a big improvement; more work needed |author1=Bright, Peter |author2=Protalinski, Emil |date=2009-02-16 |publisher=Ars Technica |access-date=2009-02-27}} Rumors stemmed from an online job listing from Microsoft's website calling for a "Senior Product Manager".{{cite web |url=http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080831/microsoft-launch-skymarket-applications-marketplace-windows-mobile-7/ |title=Microsoft to launch "Skymarket" applications marketplace for Windows Mobile 7 |author=Zheng, Long |publisher=I Started Something |date=2008-08-31 |access-date=2009-02-27}}

On February 16, 2009, Microsoft made an official announcement for the service at the 2009 Mobile World Congress for use with upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 devices.{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/feb09/02-16MWCPR.mspx |title=Microsoft Reveals New Windows Phones With Marketplace and My Phone Services |publisher=Microsoft |date=2009-02-16 |access-date=2009-02-27}} The company then announced that availability of the service would be by the end of 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/mar09/03-30CTIA09PR.mspx |title=Microsoft Gains Support for Next Generation of Windows Phones |date=2009-03-30 |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=2009-04-29}}

The store opened for business on 6 October 2009, featuring 246 applications.

On November 12, 2009, the Marketplace web application was opened.{{cite web|url=http://wmvhddatabase.com/article/23/News/Microsoft-Launches-Windows-Mobile-Web-Store/ |title=Microsoft Launches Windows Mobile Web Store |date=2009-11-12 |publisher=WMV HD Database |access-date=2009-11-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116132225/http://wmvhddatabase.com/article/23/News/Microsoft-Launches-Windows-Mobile-Web-Store |archive-date=November 16, 2009 }}

The Marketplace website announced in mid-2011: "On July 15th [2011] this website will no longer offer Windows Mobile 6.x applications for download. If you have a Windows Mobile 6.x phone you can continue accessing the application store from the Marketplace client on your phone. ... [you must] sign into Marketplace for Mobile on your phone ... to buy apps". It was later announced that Marketplace for Mobile would be discontinued on May 9, 2012.[http://rcpmag.com/articles/2012/03/09/windows-mobile-marketplace-to-close-in-two-months.aspx Redmond Channel Partner: Microsoft Shuttering Windows Mobile Marketplace in May, March 9, 2012]

On July 15, 2011, Microsoft announced that they will no longer be accepting submissions for new applications or updates to existing ones.{{cite web|url=http://www.winrumors.com/windows-mobile-6-x-funeral-on-july-15-no-more-apps|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523152841/https://www.winrumors.com/windows-mobile-6-x-funeral-on-july-15-no-more-apps |archive-date=2011-05-23|access-date=2023-10-08|title=Windows Mobile 6.x funeral on July 15, no new apps|first=Tom|last=Warren|date=2011-05-20}}

• List of digital distribution platforms for mobile devices

{{reflist}}

{{Windows Mobile}}

{{Software digital distribution platforms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Windows Marketplace For Mobile}}

Category:Windows Mobile

Category:Microsoft software

Category:Mobile software distribution platforms