Microsoft’s app store Windows Marketplace has surpassed the 40,000 mark just a week after the official launch of Nokia’s first smartphone using the Windows Phone OS, according to reports.
All About Windows Phone (AAWP) has posted reports claiming the outlet reached the landmark, adding that nearly 11,000 apps were submitted within the past three months, with 5,000 of those within the last 30 days.
The report went on to add that 68% of those apps were free downloads, 23% were premium and the remainder used a “freemium” pricing model.
The figures were reported using AAWP’s Marketplace tracking system and further estimated the outlet would reach the 50,000 mark by January. This is compared with less than 10,000 apps in the store last January.
Microsoft’s Marketplace still lags behind its rival outlets by some way, with Apple’s App Store containing over 500,000 apps, while Google’s Android Market has over 300,000, according to their latest official statistics.
However, Microsoft’s ecosystem has recently been bolstered by the launch of Nokia’s first range using its Windows Phone ecosystem, the Lumia devices, and the launch of several high-profile apps from brands such as Spotify.
Both Microsoft and Nokia, now headed by ex-Microsoft VP Stephen Elop, are undertaking a massive charm offensive on the developer community. Nokia is to distribute 25,000 of its flagship Lumia devices to app developers in a bid to buoy Windows Phone’s popularity.
