Microsoft Bans VoIP, Rival Stores At Mobile Market 151
narramissic writes "Microsoft has identified 12 application types that won't be accepted at the MarketPlace for Mobile store. Among them: VoIP apps, programs that are larger than 10MB, and programs that change the default browser on a device. Overly restrictive? Maybe. But perhaps the clear set of rules (PDF) will prevent confusion similar to what's been encountered over Apple's policy for approving or rejecting applications from the App Store."
So? (Score:2, Interesting)
We're up in arms because they don't want you using other companies products on their stuff?
This seems like a fairly normal corporate model: why give other companies a chance to wow your consumer base?
Meanwhile, Apple's latest evil is barring Trent Reznor from using his music in an app when they sell the uncensored version of his music on itunes. I think Apple is winning the 'my store is more evil' award for now.
Re:Excuse me (Score:1, Interesting)
Um, the restrictions are basically nothing. The ones Apple use are far more restrictive (e.g. arbitrarily remove an app just because it costs $1000 and does nothing but show a picture of a red ruby).
I can foresee this list spiralling.
dialers (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Excuse me (Score:3, Interesting)
Only the restriction on replacing the SMS/MMS interface seems braindamaged to me. You can likely already configure a winmo phone to send those messages via TCP. If I had unlimited internet on my cellphone (RAZR V3i) I could do this, and send SMS and MMS for free. (I don't...)
Resistance is Futile... (Score:3, Interesting)
Windows® Marketplace for Mobile
Prohibited Application Types:
1. Applications that are or distribute alternate marketplaces for content types (applications,
games, themes etc.) that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows® Marketplace for
Mobile.
2. Applications that link to, incent users to download, or otherwise promote alternate
marketplaces for content types that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows
Marketplace for Mobile.
3. Applications that promote or link users to a website, or contain functionality within the
application itself, which encourages or requires the user to purchase or pay to upgrade the
application outside of Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.
4. Applications that enable VoIP (Voice over IP) services over a mobile operator network.
5. Applications that sell, link to, or otherwise promote mobile voice plans.
6. Applications that display advertising that does not meet the Microsoft Advertising Creative
Acceptance Policy Guide http://advertising.microsoft.com/creative-specs.
7. Applications that replace, remove or modify the default dialer, SMS, or MMS interface.
8. Applications that change the default browser, search client, or media player on the device.
9. Applications with an OTA (over the air) download >10 MB.
10. Applications that run code outside Microsoft runtimes (native, managed, and widgets)
11. Applications that publish a userâ(TM)s location information to any other person without first having
received the userâ(TM)s express permission (opt-in) to do so, and that do not provide the user a
means of opting out of having their location information published.
12. Applications that publish a userâ(TM)s data from their mobile device to any other person without first
having received the userâ(TM)s express permission (opt-in) to do so, and that do not provide the user
a means of opting out of having their data published. A âoeuserâ(TM)s dataâ includes, without limit,
contacts, photos, SMS or other text communication, browsing history, location information, and
other data either stored on the mobile device or stored in the âoecloudâ but accessible from the
mobile device
Microsoft reserves the right to update these policies as needed to protect the Windows® Marketplace
for Mobile service or the users of the service
Re:Excuse me (Score:3, Interesting)
Reading this I am starting to wonder how I managed to get software for my windows mobile devices all these years since I got an XDA in 2004.
Re:Excuse me (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Windows Mobile? (Score:1, Interesting)
These issues are caused by the poor configuration and bloatware installed by the carriers, not Windows Mobile. Once I corrected my phone and ditched some of the crap installed by AT&T, my phone became a stable, feature rich, fast thing of beauty. Check out xda-developers.com for guidance.
12 more reasons (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Cellular telephony pricing... (Score:1, Interesting)
I don't see what citizen income equality has to do with the cost of SMS. Europe is a very competitive mobile market, so prices go down as a natural consequence. The US has quasi-monopolistic companies who can afford to tax whatever they want. As long as the customers are paying, it works.
Actually... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Cellular telephony pricing... (Score:1, Interesting)
Price fixing. Not excessive. Right...
I'm shocked by the mobile telephony prices in the US: $0.25 per text message. What The Fuck??
I get 50 messages for free every month (and 50 minutes of calls) for a monthly fee of nothing, and $0.032 per text after the first 50.
That's in the socialist haven that is Denmark, where income is most evenly distributed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality#cite_note-0 -- UN Gini, second most equal by CIA Gini, more equal than the US by every metric).
Yeah, but that's just because you vote on stuff like getting value for taxes, whereas we are stuck choosing to vote for "more war" or "maybe a little less war" - we don't have the luxury of voting for sensible telecom regulations that result in a more competitive, less monopolistic (oligopolistic) market.