Microsoft’s take at electronic software distribution goes by the rather long name “Marketplace for Mobile”: even though it was announced at the MWC, nobody at the Microsoft booth felt like giving demos or talking more about the underlying terms and conditions.
This has now changed. A 32-page PDF has appeared on Microsoft’s servers – and contains some sensible announcements like the one below stating that developers no longer need to worry about distributing the .NET CF runtime along with their apps:
Application providers should not include the .NET Compact Framework redistributable package with their applications. The Marketplace submission process will ensure that .NET CF 2.0 or 3.5 is appropriately installed on the device.
Unfortunately, Microsoft also implemented pretty stringent rules – an example is below:
File-based and Single Document Interface (SDI) applications must support common dialog boxes on Windows Mobile devices, such as dialog boxes for naming and saving files, and dialog boxes for not using proprietary interfaces for these functions
This goes on and includes a few very weird provisions like the one that today panels are no longer needed due to Windows Mobile 6.5’s new UI:
It is a requirement that applications do not have:
x)A Today Screen plug-in
x)A Today Screen component
x)Launch the Today Screen.
The new Windows Mobile 6.5 user interface significantly reduces the need for the Today Screen. Although applications can present the Today Screen on Windows Mobile 6.5, it provides a less desirable user experience.
Other terms prohibit changing default applications, VOIP and so on – it looks like the Microsoft Marketplace for Mobile is well on its way to become about as locked down as Apple’s iTunes App Store. Now all we need is signing mania like on S60…and developers are in hell on earth.
What do you think?
P.S. Most of the provisions above are IMHO intended to keep carriers happy. Keep in mind that the store will be in the ROM of each and every WM device ongoing….and carriers would definitely be extremely pissed if their competitors are one start menu entry away…
Related posts:
