Here is How Microsoft Can Spur App Adoption From Brands & Star Indie Developers
Despite what people think Microsoft really has a wealth of resources developers can tap into if they want to produce apps for the platform. Here is a suggestion on how Microsoft can go a step further to help spur the continued adoption of major apps for the Windows Phone 8 platform. Its rather simple really and is two-fold. Software and Hardware is the way to do this.
Software
Offer code modules for specific type of apps. More than just guidelines but actual sections of code that makes it incredibly inexpensive to develop for the platform. Done properly this would significantly cut down on the hours a company would have to devote to developing for the platform. Develop an online series tutorial using a fictitious banking institution as an example and show exactly how you would using best practices and the category specific coding modules. Show companies how specific APIs exist to accomplish tasks and how to easily implement the code. Hire whoever created the best banking apps on the platform as an outside consultant or bring them on board to handle the tasks. The move will pay for itself when users adopt the platform and begin making purchases in the Windows Phone Store and additional revenue from licensing fees from OEMs who want to jump on board. Also of note is continue to lower the cost for developers to join the developer program. Keep it under $100 and stop putting barriers and divisions in the program.
Hardware
Pay Nokia & HTC for an amount of phones that you can distribute to every major financial institution, big brand corporation and star indie developer. 1,000 devices, give or take, should be able to accomplish this. That’s a drop in the bucket for Microsoft. Heck, they probably make that every day from their Android licensing revenue. I just read that USAA has decided to drop support for the Windows Phone platform. My sister, a recent Army retiree, uses USAA for all of her banking. It is an indispensable part of her mobile life. Without the USAA app on Windows Phone I’d never be able to get her to switch from Android.
I included star indie developers in the mix because indie developers who provide real and clear value to the platform are essential. Apple didn’t make any of the hot apps that draw users to the platform. Indie developers have made Apple hundreds of billions of dollars. The same can and should happen on Windows Phone. You do this by rewarding those who have demonstrated their value. Purchase the 1,000 devices and distribute them to the big brands and star indie developers ASAP. This would eliminate a major reason a developer or institution could raise as why the platform isn’t being supported.
The chicken and egg argument has always had a clear answer. The platform became the chicken the moment it was released for retail consumption. Now Microsoft must provide it what it needs to grow up strong and compete in this survival of the fittest world. Steve Ballmer wasn’t wrong to emphasize developers, developers, developers. He and all of Microsoft just has to be willing to go the extra mile it takes to take down a champion. Make no mistake Android and iOS are the co-champs in the smartphone market. Windows Phone can take heart that even the fearsome Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali were beaten at some point. It starts with work you do when nobody is looking.
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hey yo Murani, what’s up.. last guy I want to sound like is that tool Simmons but the word is is a verb and verbs get capitalized in titles in which non-proper nouns and verbs are also capitalized. there are length (sorry to say that word, simmons) rules with prepositions (around and inside get capitalized but not up) and such but not with verbs bro.
you know what, forget I said anything, this is probably a good article, don’t waste your time fixing a damn capitalization, keep on writing, liking your stuff and now that I’m done about is I think I’ll actually read this, and then look to see if Jimski or that Marti gal wrote anything — generally not relevant to my consumer interests but I don’t know, they’re .. I just feel like I can trust them with my kid for a few minutes, unlike this other guy you for some reason don’t expel from this operation — why not, because he makes goofy widget titles and this “masculine nickname” shit? “hit me with email bro” you could probably get along okay on your own without having to put up with his foolish toolishness, “right on lol” fu simmons.
you see how that chump got all quiet since I went buckwild on his ass? where you go simmons, you scared? can’t handle who dis?! evidentally… punk ass.
where was I — right, just wanted to stop by to say that giving phones out to a good handful of banks does sound like a good idea, even though it might not necessarily go over too well the occupy wall street movement, but who cares about them other than simmons who can be seen “observing” their filthy camps when he’s just there to score meth laced with windshield washer fluid so he can go back here and “write” hah.. oh man, don’t get me started on that guy. give the damn phones out, they can afford it, just do it and get the inroads, dead on the money my man Murani, dead on
Marti how you feelin’ girl? gonna write something for me or what?
Notice how I’ve been uncapitalizing simmons’s ass in this article but not yours — that’s because he’s been hiding like a punk ass. So in getting a response out of me, if that’s his goal, I guess you won one round finally simmons. Come back here like a man and I’ll drop a S “in lieu” (can’t believe you say “in lieu” here) of the little girly man s.
Good to have you active. Simmons is probably off doing some super secret “we’d be in danger if we knew” type of stuff.
You have to spend money to make money. Microsoft needs to realize that Windows name recognition means nothing in the mobile market. Not yet anyway. It won’t until they improve Windows RT (including pricing) and get the platforms closer aligned.
sorry for a double post but I want to set off his narcissistic google alerts to get him over here to hash things out with me: doug simmons, douglas simmons, doug e fresh, dougie fresh, freshie, that punk ass doug simmons, and finally who dis?!, that should do it, watch him wait like an hour so he doesn’t look that pathetic, as if he’s coming back by chance not because he received a google alert haha simmons you’re funnier when you’re mouth is shut
Oh lawd I’ve been here damn near two hours?? Must be losing my mind! Simmons where you at, your google alerts ain’t working?
I’ve been enjoying the articles of you and your colleagues, participating in the lively discussions on a few of them, but on my MobilityBinge (that’s a cool name actually, you should probably see if it’s available) I’m running into articles that have their comments closed! I read the article, I got something dope to drop on that article, and then, what? Damn! Comments are closed, the last time that happened on some sweet battery controversial expose kind of piece and judging by the lack of tl;dr salaciousness I think it was a Jim piece.
Why you be closing my commenting capabilities? Oh wait, let me guess who’s idea that might have been, yeah… yeah I think we all know exactly who’d pull a move like that. Nicely played, punk ass. Now show yourself. And then take a forced vacation. Damn.
Where was I — so yes of course they should make it easier for programmers, including modules and things along the lines of Google’s Appmaker thing if you’ll forgive the example, and yes this should be definitely inside a hundred bucks, but I was thinking more in the ZERO dollar range. Murani, buddy, you can’t slow this down with taking any money, not yet, get these damn phones out there, show the devs nothing but love. Hell yeah.
I see that you reserve all rights (footer). Can you give me a few examples of rights you’re reserving and for what purpose exactly? I’ll settle for one. Specifically, I’d settle for Simmons’s right to remain silent, that punk ass. He’s probably short and has, you know, that part between your Adam’s apple and underneath your chin, that soft area, I bet his is hanging kind of low for however old he is. Ain’t that right Simmons? Damn what’s the name for that thing. Whatever, I bet it’s a little low hanging, I bet that when someone takes his picture for his dumbass gravatar account he sorta tilts his head back a bit to stretch that part out. Bet you’re real self conscious about that ain’t that right Simmons, ain’t that right.
They shouldn’t give the phones to Goldman Sachs or JPMorgan Chase though, too much time getting grilled in DC, and not in the good way, I mean by the politicians. Or BoA. But hook my dogs up at Morgan Stanley, from their real badass former CEO John Mackdaddy to their security guards to their cleaning ladies. They’re good people, and people pay attention to those guys, including the Japanese.. They’re the true badasses of Wall Street, and they’d jump at this Windows Phone shit in a second, trading in their Bold 9700s, firing their BES administrators, goodbye punks, go file for unemployment and blog, no Lumias for you!
Also, might as well give them green-colored Lumias, … ehh nah that’s silly.