Windows Mobile for Australia : Marketplace

Using Window Marketplace for Mobile #1 – getting started on your phone

wmOz — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:07:44 GMT

As we get to the end of 2009 I want to provide you a guide on getting started with Marketplace, and from this we (the WMOz team) plan in the new year to provide a series of reviews of applications available in Marketplace.

For this first post I’ll focus on getting started from your phone, making sure your account is setup, browsing & searching for apps, download/purchase and installing. I plan to write a separate post on how to use review apps and the web portal.

Using Marketplace on your phone:

You’ll need a Windows phone powered by Windows Mobile 6.5, or download the Marketplace client for your Windows Mobile 6 or 6.1 phone, a data plan for your phone, a Windows LiveID. (ok, pretty obvious I know, but we’ll start at the beginning and try to call out all the different parts)
From the Today screen press the Windows icon, or press the Windows button on your phone. This will launch the Start menu.
On the Start menu, scroll to find the Marketplace icon and press to start Marketplace.
Marketplace will start, and will check to ensure you have the latest version of the client on your phone.
Sign-in to Marketplace using your Windows LiveID.

Ok – so now you are in the Marketplace client, and signed in.

The sections of Marketplace:

Main screen/Home: shows some of the Showcase applications, and provides access to Most popular, What’s New, Categories and My Applications areas. When you choose “Home” from the menu, this is where you’ll be taken to.
Search bar: ability to search for apps inside Marketplace by keywords from their title and description. Here’s a search example ofr GPS and the result.
Showcase: highlighted applications
Most popular: applications with the highest volume of purchase/download - you can filter this section by pressing on the “View All” drop down list.
What’s New: new applications available on Marketplace – you can also filter this list - this shows the list filtered for Free apps.
Categories: browse through the catalogue of applications. Many categories include sub-categories for definition of the application inside a category. For example Games has sub-categories including Action, Classic, Board.
My Applications: provides a view of applications I have purchased/installed, ability to review or remove the applications.

Those are the different sections of the Marketplace client on your Windows phone, the next step is to start purchasing/installing applications on your Windows phone.

Purchasing/Installing Applications:

Choose your application to purchase , this screenshot shows choosing from the "What’s new” section.
Selecting the application takes you to that applications detailed listing. , read the description and as you flick (on a touch phone) to navigate down you are provided any reviews and ability to look at screen shots of the application.
Once your satisfied this is the application want return to the top of the screen, and press on “Install” . This will trigger the purchase process for a paid application, or if the app is free it will commence installing over the air. [Note: Marketplace apps are installed over the air, so if you have are connected to WiFi the installation will use your WiFi connection].
If the application requires purchasing you are notified to accept a charge being added to your credit card . If it is the first time you are buying an app you will be asked to provide credit card details.
The application will now commence installing, a progress bar is provided at the bottom of the Marketplace screen, but you can continue using your Windows phone during this time as the install takes place in the background.
Once installed the application will appear in the Start menu of your Windows phone, and also in the My Applications section of Marketplace.

Enjoy exploring Marketplace and discovering some of the great apps that are available already.

DonK

WWOS Cricket – now available for 6.5 non-touch phones

wmOz — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:05:23 GMT

Last Friday I let you know that the Wide World of Sport (WWOS) Cricket Widget was available for 6.5 touch-based (Professional) phones. The good news this morning is those of you with 6.5 non-touch (Standard) phones, can now get this widget for your Windows phone.

To get the widget start Marketplace on your phone and type “Cricket” into the search bar.

You can also get access via the Marketplace web portal.

DonK

Windows Marketplace for Mobile – Updates go live

wmOz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:56:31 GMT

There have been a set of upgrades go live on Windows Marketplace for Mobile through today – full details are on the updates is available on the windows team blog.

Summary of the updates;

1. Developer Portal improvements & stronger anti-piracy protection

2. Browse & Buy applications from the PC

To come later this month is extension of the service to Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 customers.

DonK

Windows Marketplace update

wmOz — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:22:00 GMT

Todd Brix from the Product team in Redmond has posted an update on the countdown to launch for Marketplace on Oct 6 (US time) – check it out here http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsphone/archive/2009/09/30/windows-marketplace-update-countdown-to-launch.aspx

Worth calling out is target to delivery 6 & 6.1 support is November, and that phase will also bring PC based catalogue & shopping experience.

I’d strongly encourage any of you with apps ready to read his section on speeding the app submission process, and as always feel free to ping us here in Oz if you’ve got queries.

DonK

Master Codemason Competition – The finalists announced

wmOz — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:52:48 GMT

The three Master Codemason Competition finalists have been decided, and are all booked for their trip to TechEd next week.

We were really impressed by the range of entries we received, covering Lifestyle apps, Music & Video, Business, Utility, Travel, Education – there was social networking integration, business use scenarios, and informational/education apps prototypes submitted.

The three finalists were;

Luis Ortega with The Follow me Clock
Robert Crago with Musicradio
Darko Radiceski with AAMHatcheye

Luis, Robert & Darko are all booked in for TechEd, and will present their applications live at Smackdown – so if you are at TechEd, come along to the Mobility Smackdown session on Friday afternoon and help judge the Master Codemason! If you couldn’t get a TechEd ticket, then keep posted on the Codemason’s Guild blog, we’ll update you with information live from the event.

The launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 and the opening to Windows phone users of the Windows Marketplace for Mobile have now been revealed as taking place globally on October 6th (US time). You can read the word from the Windows phone team here.

The opportunity for developers is to get your app’s into Marketplace now, so they are certified, signed and ready for users to access as the new range of Windows phones release.

DonK

Debug Days – Rego’s now open

wmOz — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:29:31 GMT

Timing is close we know so here are the rego links for next weeks Debug Days – all start @ 4.30pm at the Microsoft office in each location.

Brisbane – Monday 10th : Level 9, 1 Waterfront Place, Brisbane.

Sydney – Tuesday 11th: 1 Epping Road, North Ryde.

Melbourne – Wednesday 12th: Level 5, 4 Freshwater Place, Southbank.

So click on your local link & register – it will be good to meet many of you face to face.

Don’t forget to post your topic requests on the Codemasons’ blog - Codemasons’ Debug Days are coming – next week!

See you next week.

DonK

Technorati Tags: Windows Mobile 6.5,Marketplace,Mobile Developer

Codemasons’ Debug Days are coming – next week!

wmOz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:23:00 GMT

Next week we will be holding a series of events to help developers get their application development moving for Windows Mobile 6.5 and into Marketplace.

These Debug Days will be held from 4.30pm till 9pm on;

Monday August 10th – Microsoft Brisbane, Level 9 Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle St, Brisbane
Tuesday August 11th – Microsoft Sydney, 1 Epping Road, North Ryde
Wednesday August 12th – Microsoft Melbourne, Level 5, 4 Freshwater Place, Southbank

We will provide an update on Marketplace, the signup/registration process, and the guidelines.

The evening is then over to the developers – so what are the topics you want our MVPs to cover – let us know;

post your comments to this post
Tweet James McCutcheon or Nick Randolph on Twitter

James : @jamesmcc
Nick: @BTRoam

We’ll update the topic lists here @ WMOZ, @ the Codemasons’ Guild, and James/Nick will Tweet as well.

Rego links coming soon – but slot some time in your diary.

PS – we’ll have some drinks & food on hand as well :-)

DonK

Technorati Tags: Windows Mobile 6.5,Marketplace,Developer

Codemason Competitions Launched

wmOz — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:45:25 GMT

We have just opened two competition for developers in Australia, with the opportunity to win great prizes, all for getting your great concept for a Windows phone application. Here’s information for them both;

1. Master Codemason Competition

For developers - do you have a clever concept for a Windows® phone application? We’d like to help you turn it into a best-seller on Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Interested? Simply submit your brilliant concept by August 21, 2009 and you could win one of three prize packs worth $5,000 each! You can enter as many times as you like, as long as each entry is different.

The each of the 3 prizes includes a fully paid ticket to TechEd Australia on the Gold Coast (with 3 nights accom & flights). The 3 prize winners will have their app showcased at TechEd, including at Smackdown – where we will judge the Master Codemason Application.

2. AppPrentice Competition

Are you a Student? Got a great idea for a mobile app but no way to make it happen? Submit your idea by August 17, 2009 and you could win one of two developer mentorships and share in prizes! You can enter as many times as you like, as long as each entry is different.

For all the terms and conditions, how to enter head to www.codemasons.com.au.

We’re looking forward to seeing the entries roll in and help to get your great apps ready and then into Marketplace for launch of Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

DonK

Technorati Tags: Marketplace,Windows Mobile 6.5,Developer

Windows Mobile 6.5 – Dev Training : Jumpstart Live Meeting #3

wmOz — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:00:28 GMT

Registration for #3 in the Codemason’s Guild Live Meeting Series (Jumpstart) is open.

Friday July 31st at 1pm is the 3nd in our series of Live Meetings to help Australian developers get started developing for Windows Mobile 6.5 – and to get those apps in Marketplace (Windows Marketplace for Mobile – Open for Developer registration) to distribute/sell to the millions of Windows Mobile users globally.

These Live Meetings have been running through July, every second Friday starting at 1pm. So grab some lunch, your favourite beverage, and get ready to learn.

So what is this Live Meeting all about? Widgets!

July 31 1pm – Widgets, the new Internet Applications.

Get insight into the Widgets platform for Windows Mobile 6.5 and discover how to develop powerful Widgets that leverage today’s web experience in a new way.

Registration Link : http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032421408&EventCategory=4&IO=Yfl2qH71kGe9wv5R5uwpmQ%3d%3d&culture=en-AU&CountryCode=AU

DonK

Technorati Tags: Marketplace,Windows mobile 6.5,Developer

Marketplace announcements

wmOz — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:25:19 GMT

Overnight (Oz time) the Marketplace team made some significant announcements at Worldwide Partner Conference;

Application Submission Opens on July 27th: Windows Marketplace will open for application submissions from 29 supported countries July 27.
Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 Support: Windows Marketplace will be available for Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 by the end of 2009 (in addition to Windows Mobile 6.5 at launch in the fall).
Business Centre: Windows Marketplace will feature a "Business Centre" category for business applications.
Developer Contest: Microsoft will be disclosing the details of a Windows Marketplace developer contest on July 27.

Full details of these announcements are at: http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsphone/archive/2009/07/14/get-ready-windows-marketplace-for-mobile-offers-millions-of-potential-new-customers.aspx

The opportunity for developers increases :-), we will keep you posted on new info as soon as it’s available.

DonK

Technorati Tags: Marketplace,Windows Mobile 6.5,Developer

Using Gestures in Windows Mobile 6.5

wmOz — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:55:20 GMT

There is updated technical documentation for developers on Using Gestures in 6.5 that has been added to the MSDN Library.

It is a language reference section containing descriptions of programming elements for touch events, gestures, and gesture animations.

Head to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee220920.aspx.

Technorati Tags: Windows Mobile 6.5,developer,gestures

Windows Mobile 6.5 – Dev Training : Jumpstart Live Meeting #2

wmOz — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:22:44 GMT

Registration for #2 in the Codemason’s Guild Live Meeting Series (Jumpstart) is now open.

This Friday at 1pm is the 2nd in our series of 3 Live Meetings to help Australian developers get started developing for Windows Mobile 6.5 – and to get those apps in Marketplace (Windows Marketplace for Mobile – Open for Developer registration) to distribute/sell to the millions of Windows Mobile users globally.

These Live Meetings run through July, every second Friday starting at 1pm. So grab some lunch, your favourite beverage, and get ready to learn.

July 17 1pm - Getting started developing for Windows Mobile 6.5: developer tools, technologies, debugging and testing
Learn how to get started developing for Windows Mobile 6.5, what can be done with the new technologies and how to use your existing skills to start coding apps for Windows Mobile 6.5 phones via Windows Marketplace.

Registration Link : http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/InviteOnly.aspx?EventID=69-37-B7-CD-C8-36-0B-BE-A3-7D-8A-9E-99-94-9E-CE&culture=en-AU

DonK

Technorati Tags: Marketplace,Windows Mobile 6.5,Developer

Codemasons’ Guild – Jumpstart Live Meeting #1 Q&A

wmOz — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:08:40 GMT

Last Friday James McCutcheon, Jeff Alexander & I (DonK) hosted the first in the Codemasons’ Guild Jumpstart series. If you want to review the LiveMeeting or look at it for the first time – keep an eye out on www.codemasons.com.au it will be posted there in the next few days.

We had some fantastic questions asked through, and at the end of, the Live Meeting – and here’s the listing of a whole host of them;

Q: Is there an upgrade available for existing 6.1 phones?

A: Updates to existing devices in market will be announced by our OEM Partners. At this point HTC have publicly stated that the HTC Diamond 2, HTC Touch Pro 2 and HTC Snap will be updateable to Windows Mobile 6.5.

Q: can you run My Phone side-by-side with an Exchange server configuration?

A: Yes, where a Windows Mobile (6 or greater) phone is configured for Exchange ActiveSync then that handles synchronisation of your Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Email. My Phone will then Sync/Backup other elements – SMS, Photos, Music, Video, Documents.

Q: Will Telco's have the ability to bar access to Marketplace?

A: No

Q: How much is the overall fees for the app submission ?

A: The sign-up fee at present is USD$99 for 5 applications – see developer.windowsmobile.com/maretplace.aspx for more information/details.

Q: When can we access the Dev. Portal?

A: Soon :)

Q: Is this a once off fees ?

A: 99 USD charge fee for 5 app signings

Q: If the application is available for free? what will Microsoft charge developer?

A: It will be charged as one of your signings

Q: At what points do i need to get my app signed? Obviously for initial registration, but what about subsequent updates?

A: Yes all updates need to be signed but not charged as one of your signings

Q: Is there any overlap or merging to be expected between My Phone and Live Mesh for mobile devices?

A: We don’t have any announcements to make about that today. My Phone is being delivered as a backup service for your life on your phone, it is available in beta today for Windows Mobile 6 and higher devices/

Q : Will a testing tool be available to developers to allow them to test their own app before submission?

A: Not at this time, it will be a manual process

Q: What are the requirements for registering for Marketplace - i.e. do you need to have a registered company - ABN, ACN?

A: No you do not need to have a registered company to sign-up for Marketplace.

Q: Will there be a rating/ranking system for apps on MarketPlace. If so, will the rating/ranking algorithm be transparent?

A: There will be a user ranking system

Q: Does the Marketplace support multi-developers/one-application or multi-developers/multi-applications scenarios?

A: The Developer Account on Marketplace will enable you to assign multiple team members/developers to a single account (allowing for one-app/multi-developer) or ISV/Companies to sign-up/

Comment: Thanks guys; very useful meeting

Comment: Cheers and May the Force be with you always.

DonK

Technorati Tags: Marketplace,Windows Mobile,Developer

Codemasons’ Guild Jumpstart Series – Live Meeting 1 today

wmOz — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:13:56 GMT

Don’t forget the first in our series of Live Meetings on 6.5, Marketplace & App Dev for WinMo is happening today – 1pm.

Today’s Live Meeting will provide what’s new in 6.5 and outline what Marketplace is.

If you haven’t registered yet, head to www.codemasons.com.au to register.

Looking forward to talking to you all later on today.

DonK

Technorati Tags: windows Mobile 6.5,marketplace,codemasons guild

Windows Mobile 6.5 developer training – Jumpstart series

wmOz — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:04:32 GMT

Next Friday at 1pm is the first of a series of 3 Live Meetings to help Australian developers get started developing for Windows Mobile 6.5 – and to get those apps in Marketplace (Windows Marketplace for Mobile – Open for Developer registration) to distribute/sell to the millions of Windows Mobile users globally.

These Live Meetings will run through July, all on a Friday starting at 1pm. So grab some lunch, your favourite beverage, and get ready to learn. The first starts Friday week, July 3 – click to register now.

July 3rd 1pm - Introduction to Windows Mobile 6.5 and Marketplace: the opportunity and the platform
This webcast introduces the new and upcoming features of Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Marketplace. It also outlines the incredible business opportunity for developers to reach millions of users globally via Windows Marketplace – and the processes required to do so.
Register now for Live Meeting session 1

July 30 1pm - Widgets: the new internet application
Get insight into the Widgets platform for Windows Mobile 6.5 and discover how to develop powerful Widgets that leverage today’s web experience in a new way.

DonK

Technorati Tags: Windows Mobile 6.5,Developer,Training,Marketplace