Microsoft App Store: No VoIP Thanks

As The Register reports, Microsoft have published some guidance on apps that won't be allowed in the Windows Mobile app store when it launches later in 2009.

VoIP is a definite no-no, and they also don't want you to mess with revenue from SMS, or lead customers away to alternative app stores. As with Apple before it, Microsoft are taking no chances with offending their cellco partners by allowing threats to the cash cow services, long distance calling/roaming and texting.

Reply from formidible on Jun 14, 2009 - 04:19 AM

It would seem that the Ovi Store - Nokia's new app store have taken a similar line. Seems completely daft if you ask me. Here we have a mobile phone provider that is totally independant from any mobile network and which obviously knows more than most about voip and sip calling (since they have a sip configuration feature in most of their smartphones). Yet they have not one single voip application in their app store - even fring has been removed. On the other hand you have Apple who have several voip applications in the App store and yet don't allow voip calling on the default network! Has the world gone crazy?

Reply from dean on Jun 14, 2009 - 01:31 PM

Quote:

Here we have a mobile phone provider that is totally independant from any mobile network

They're not independent at all - they're completely tied to all mobile network operators.

It's a symbiotic relationship.

Reply from martyndavies on Jun 14, 2009 - 06:41 PM

I was just thinking the Ovi Store was looking generally empty (it's just started of course) but now you come to mention it, VoIP apps are missing. We'd better not point out to Nokia that some of the apps in the Ovi Store feature messaging and location functions that are also competing with network-provided services!

Quote:

They're not independent at all - they're completely tied to all mobile network operators.

Absolutely right. The biggest sales channel for handsets is operators, probably 100 times bigger than unlocked handsets sold direct.

Reply from jpdw on Jun 15, 2009 - 06:19 PM

Quote:

As The Register reports, Microsoft have published some guidance on apps that won't be allowed in the Windows Mobile app store when it launches later in 2009.

I take it that will rule out running Microsoft's Office Communicator as well then? Otherwise it might appear that MS are behaving in a monopolistic / protectionistic way........

Reply from martyndavies on Jun 17, 2009 - 03:25 PM

Re: the Ovi Store: today I can see Truphone and Eqo under "social networks" and these packages can certainly be used to work against cellcos' interests. Perhaps we can cut Ovi a bit of slack...

Reply from ianplain on Jun 17, 2009 - 04:14 PM

Do they work over 3g? , I note that on my e63 the internet call feature only works on wifi. Though being on 3 skype always work.

Ian

Reply from dean on Jun 17, 2009 - 09:02 PM

Quote:

Truphone and Eqo

WiFi only. This isn't mobile VoIP - that requires 2G/EDGE/3G. Then it gets interesting.

Reply from gappiah on Jul 15, 2009 - 03:27 PM

Quote:

Quote: They're not independent at all - they're completely tied to all mobile network operators. Absolutely right. The biggest sales channel for handsets is operators, probably 100 times bigger than unlocked handsets sold direct.

I suppose you're talking of US/Canada here. Outside these countries the story is very different. Many operators around the world, especially the GSM folks, operate purely on a BYOD basis and aren't in the bundled handset business at all.

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