Microsoft launches Windows Marketplace at Barcelona

Microsoft is launching a service to rival Apple's popular mobile App Store with a similar service of its own, called Windows Marketplace at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain that began yesterday. The Mobile World Congress is the cellphone industry's version of the Consumer Electronics Show.

According to reports, Windows Marketplace, which has almost 20,000 applications already developed for its Windows Mobile operating system, will be launched towards the end of the year, leaving Microsoft lagging behind its rival.

Windows Marketplace is a comprehensive, easy-to-use shopping and download site that helps Windows customers discover, try out, and acquire partner products and solutions. Millions of customers can access Windows Marketplace through the Windows operating system and Internet Explorer, and receive information about this valuable destination through a variety of Microsoft marketing vehicles.

Google is also set to launch its own store, called Android Market, to allow developers to sell applications designed for mobiles running its Android smartphone software (See: 14 new members boast the Android Phone alliance). Windows Phone, unveiled by Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer in Barcelona, will include new "touch" features to rival Apple's iPhone. Microsoft's new service called My Phone will allow people to sync their photos, contacts, videos and other files to a personalised website they can access from anywhere. And analysts predict a glimpse at Windows Mobile 6.5, an updated version of the company's operating system for handsets.

Microsoft and Google won't be alone competing with Apple; Research in Motion, which makes the Blackberry, is also expected to launch a store of its own, as are various mobile phone handset manufacturers including Samsung and Nokia.

Android Market will allow developers to set their own price for their apps and will be launched next week.

While Nokia unveiled its own app store at the conference, it also showed off a new model of its E75 phone, which has a slide-out full keyboard and will go on sale for 390 pounds (about $565) in Britain next month.

Adobe Systems Inc. made announcements about its Flash animation and video software for mobile phones. Samsung and LG are expected to show handsets that can be recharged by sunlight.