One of the hot topics, Microsoft unveiled last week in Barcelona was the upcoming launch of the Windows Marketplace for Windows Phones. However, Microsoft hasn't given too much details how Windows Marketplace for Mobile either looks or might works. When I asked for further information, especially for a demo it was said that it's not yet ready and therefore it cannot be demoed. Nevertheless, in a talk with Microsoft's Scott Rockfeld, Director of Windows Mobile, the Boston Herald received the information that a) Windows Marketplace service will launch before the release of Windows Mobile 6.5 and b) therefore Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 users will get access to Windows Marketplace for Mobile as well.

As a matter of fact this would makes sense. Windows Mobile 6.0, 6.1 and 6.5 are based on the same Windows CE kernel and therefore all three Windows Mobile versions are pretty much the same, if you leave the optical differences out of the scope. Therefore a Windows Marketplace for Mobile should work on all of thelatest Windows Mobile smartphones. A way bigger challenge is the question how to differentiate between Standard (non-touchscreen) and Professional/Classic (touchscreen versions) Windows Mobile versions since this is the key differentiator.

Since it's expected that first Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones will be released late this Summer, it's expectable that Windows Marketplace for Mobile could be released anytime in Q2-09.

Cheers ~ Arne