MS Unveils All-Star Dev Roster for Mobile Marketplace

Microsoft's highly anticipated Windows Mobile application store has yet to launch, but the company has effectively stirred the tech market into a frenzy with the recent unveiling of several notable supporting developers at the CTIA Wireless trade show in Las Vegas yesterday. (Source: pcmag.com)

The list includes a number of recognizable names for anyone with a computer or a game console.

Among the most notable developers currently working on apps are news and weather networks:

• Accuweather.com
   
• Associated Press
   
• CNBC

Video game developers and retailers:

• Electronic Arts (EA) Mobile
   
• Gameloft
   
• Namco

Social networking hubs:

• Facebook
   
• MySpace

Movie/music/media firms:

• Pandora
   
• Netflix
   
• Sling Media

And specialty mobile media companies like Zagat and Kimona, a company founded by ex-Apple employees in 2002 that makes media browsers and players.

Apps to Offer 24 Hour Trial

Navigating the Marketplace will be pretty straightforward. Those who own a Windows Mobile phone will be able to purchase apps quickly and easily by using a credit card or by charging their phone bills. Most apps will offer a 24-hour trial period so that users can take their handy new apps for a test drive, and if unsatisfied, cancel them without any charge.

According to reports, the above developers will be able to easily update their apps for no cost to the customer.

MySpace and Facebook Apps Coming Later

Perhaps the most anticipated apps are those from social networking titans MySpace and Facebook. The latter could actually launch much earlier than both its competitor and Marketplace, with Microsoft stating that the free download should appear sometime in April.

The MySpace app, like Marketplace itself, are both pegged for roughly "later this year." However, it's already a very hot topic in the tech world and according to some insiders, is a sure-fire hit. Reason number 1? The ability to test out apps for a whole day for free is hard to critique. (Source: pcworld.com)