Microsoft, Nokia launch AppStore knock-offs

At the World Mobile Congress now on in Barcelona, Microsoft and Nokia have confirmed earlier speculation that they will launch their own, Apple iTunes AppStore style services.

As part of the new version of Windows Mobile, due later this year (see screen shot above), Microsoft will launch Windows Marketplace for Mobile”, supporting wireless downloads from a Microsoft-run online store. Microsoft says there are already 20,000 apps for its mobile platform, but combining them under an online store will make them "more discoverable".

Nokia, for its part, will expand its existing Ovi service to include AppStore-style downloads from May as "Ovi Store".

While the web portal version of Ovi, active today, is device neutral, the razzed up mobile version will be specific to phones running Nokia's Symbian OS, and launched on its flashship Nokia N97 (pictured above).

Nokia says Ovi Store will differenciate itself by recommending software, services and content based on your location (if you have a GPS phone), and a "social discovery" feature that will automatically highlight your downloads to your peers.

Earlier, Google announced an expansion of its Android app store, which will now accommodate paid downloads under the new "Android Market".

RIM maker BlackBerry has also harbours plans, so far little fleshed out, for a BlackBerry AppCenter.

Apple's iTunes AppStore has clocked more than 300 million downloads since its June 2008 launch, and redefined customers' relationship with their cellphone as their pick and mix which (Apple-approved) software they install on their iPhone. However, Apple won't say how many AppStore downloads are for paid programmes, nor break out AppStore results.

Turbocharged cellular broadband
Today in Barcelona, Ericsson is expected to demo new HSPA technology that speeds a mobile network to peak download speeds of 42Mbit/s.

A spokesman for Ericsson told NBR that Telstra may upgrade its “NextG” network to the technology later this year, meaning “NZ will be waaaay behind our neighbours”.

Ericsson has lost out on New Zealand’s three major 3G upgrades, with Nokia-Siemens willing Vodafone’s business, Alcatel Lucent winning Telecom’s, and gear for NZ Communications putative network supplied by China’s Huawei.

Telstra’s NextG network, built around Ericsson gear, was completed in August with download speeds of up to 21Mbit/s. The new network is due to be phased in from February 23.

Vodafone New Zealand’s 3G WCDMA network can currently hit download speeds of up to 7Mbit/s when used with an HSPA-compatible phone.

Telecom’s 3G WCDMA network will support speeds of up to 14Mbit/s when it launches in June, if used with an HSPA+ cellphone (Vodafone says it has yet to add HSPA+ as no HSPA+ cellphones are sold yet).