The Windows Phone Store has doubled in size in the last year. 75,000 apps were published in the last 12 months, taking the total number to 150,000, according to the official Windows Phone Developer Blog.
Like the Windows Phone Store, Apple's App Store took two years to reach 150,000 apps, and Apple's now boasts around 740,000. So that's a pretty great rate of growth for Windows Phone. And it dwarfs BlackBerry App World's 90,000.
As well as the 75,000 new apps published, there were more than 300,000 app updates, notes Todd Brix, senior director of Windows Phone Apps Team.
This year, Microsoft added the ability to complain about an app. Finding the relevant apps was also made easier, with the addition of smart lists, and with Bing powering the searches. New collections were also added, along with recommendations for Windows Phone 8 customers.
On average, those using Windows Phone downloaded 54 apps each, which seems a lot to me. I wonder how many iOS and Android users download on average.
Microsoft is justifiably proud of itself. "We literally set a new foundation this year with the deployment of all-new infrastructure -- a new client platform, new developer toolset, new Dev Center, new catalog infrastructure, and all-new global service," Brix writes. "I know transitions can be frustrating, but it is now complete and customers and developers are already beginning to reap the benefits with a better app and store experience, faster performance and more robust tools."
Windows Phone 8 landed at the end of October, and handsets like the Nokia Lumia 920 and the HTC 8X haven't fared too badly in our reviews. It's just a shame the WhatsApp app seems to be inferior on Microsoft's mobile operating system compared to on iOS or Android.
Have you switched to Windows Phone 8? What do you reckon? Will it ever catch iOS or Android? And how many apps are on your phone? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
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anonymous 31 December, 2012 10:22
Ive recently joined windows phone and the user interface experience, its super fast to use and really slick. However although the app store is considerably better than it used to be, there are still some main key apps that aren't available like Instagram which is annoying. The UI should be more customizable as well, all of the apps seem to have this samey black look and design which can get boring
anonymous 31 December, 2012 11:34
I've been with Windows Phone since it first started (indeed, it's the only Smartphone OS I've owned, unless you count a poor early Android tablet). I have always loved the look, and been amazed that others do not always. I know it's down to personal preference but I thought the metro look was something MS did undeniably right.
WP8 is a good upgrade from 7, although not as major as many are making out. There is nothing wrong with the Whatsapp app, it's completely fine. The WP Store as a whole is good, well organised and full of good apps. I've never had Instagram but don't really see the great appeal of the service anyway, it seems to ruin photos to me... Apart from that, you're basically missing the chance to be the first users of new apps, and potentially you're gonna miss the latest timewaster app. Alright, you might be annoyed that there's no Temple Run, but it's hardly a dealbreaker, is it?
I have the HTC 8X and it's a great phone by the way, I'd really recommend it and it's a good price. You do need to try it before you decide on the OS though, when I first tried WP7 I was immediately transfixed by its slickness and simplicity. When I bought one soon after it was clear that it's more than just a pretty face, and it rightly now has many more apps than BlackBerry.
If you've held off buying a Windows Phone up to now, it's definitely the time now!
anonymous 31 December, 2012 11:56
Gone from a droid fanboy to win8 & will never go back. I miss nothing from android. The windows o/s is so smooth & I love the mininal styling, its fantastic. I also own the htc 8x & its a superb device. Switched from Galaxy S3, think that says it all.
anonymous 31 December, 2012 12:08
@anonymous 11:56 "switched from galaxy s3, think that says it all" Your going have to explain why that says it all because everyone has thier preferences!
Dsellars 31 December, 2012 12:25
Good for MS and there dev's :D personally i like the slick look of Win 8 and Win 8 mobile but i still proffer the speed, ease of use, productivity and amount of quality apps of Apple. I think Win 8 mobile will sit at a strong 3rd to Android and iOS as there such large sections of the market, there main downfall as is android and Windows (desktop) is there is such a verity of devices the apps won't be as optimized and sleek as Apples platform and Apps (in my opinion) any one agree?
anonymous 31 December, 2012 13:20
Microsoft employees posting on here? I tried WP8 and it's the biggest junk phone I ever used. The phone reboots for no reason and the battery drains under four hours of medium to light use. No time shift camera so if some one blinks I have to re take the picture like it's 1999. No one is buying WP8 as I have yet to run into one person with a woman...yes not even one person. Not that I care now anyway since I returned it after a week. Another question is why are the wp8 being given away from free...lol that should give you a reason why Microsoft won't tell people how many they sold or lack of sales. Back to my SG3.
anonymous 31 December, 2012 15:07
I've owned a Windows Phone. I don't like it its my personal preference. I just don't like design of the apps where its either all black or all white and everything is all over the place. The keyboard aswell it isn't flat on level with the edge of the screen. More like it bounces dependant on the app.
anonymous 31 December, 2012 15:36
I have an iPhone s, Droid X and I program in both platforms. I just bought the Windows Phone 8 and I really love the darn thing. I'm going to ditch the Droid X and just keep my iPhone and window's. Why get rid of my Droid X, because I enjoy programming in Windows more then Java.
anonymous 31 December, 2012 19:55
4 basic apps miss:
- real updated clock with live tile
- whatsupp
- opera (beacuse windows web browser is not too much flexlible)
- lock screen on live tile
Mark Anderson 31 December, 2012 20:56
"Microsoft employees posting on here? I tried WP8 and it's the biggest junk phone I ever used."
The irony of your post is devastating. Don't kid a kidder, son.
Anyway, I use a Nokia Lumia 820. I like it because it's fast, intuitive and the browser doesn't lag like the SGS III nor is it identikit boring like the iPhone. The app choice is getting better too.
leoevs44 1 January, 2013 15:01
Totally agree with Mark Anderson yes windows 8 is smooth and slick but hell it is boring but I have to say I haven't experienced any lag with my galaxy S3, its been proven to be the best mobile device on the planet along with the awesome nexus 4, but saying that I would take a windows phone over crapple or blackberry anyday...
anonymous 1 January, 2013 16:40
I am moving to Windows mobile 8 from Android. It is fast and easy to use and very simple. I am not very focused on Apps but it has been the reason why I have waited. Mostly because my bank app was missing but that was released here in December. I will miss Spotify as well but there are other options.. besides that.. Will Windows Mobile catch iOS and Android.. I do not think so because it is so late to market, but I think it could with time and dedication be a very strong third contender. I do think that iOS is currently the weakest OS among the three.. It just seems old and outdated.
anonymous 1 January, 2013 18:45
Our family has completely switched from Apple and Android to windows phone 8 and we will never go back. We use the Nokia 920 and 820 and they are fantastic phones. The iPhone 5 seems completely outdated next to the Nokia 920 and will never understand why they didn't include NFC technology. We use it all the time on WP8. Microsoft has finally released a solid head-to-head competitor mobile operating system. It is much more stable than Android and has surpassed Apple with ease of use. I speak from real experience and glad we dumped Android and Apple. WP8 is worth checking out. I would like to invest some time into developing a few quality apps for WP8.
leoevs44 1 January, 2013 20:20
For the people who seem to think wp8 is better than android must be on acid absolutely tripping their heads off, have tried wp7and 8 and they are vile completely useless, dull and boring,their apps are terrible,I was at first an iPhone user and oh my god the most overrated device ever created,yes android has been unstable but not on the new top end devices and not on jelly bean, the problem is no one else can compete android has caught up and totally destroyed the competition FACT, GET USED TO IT PEOPLE...
anonymous 2 January, 2013 08:18
i will be gone to windows8 from ios as soon as they have wats*p and lin* app.
John J. Kavanagh 2 January, 2013 19:45
I jumped from Android to a Win7 device (Samsung Focus) when it was made available in the USA. The shunning because of the number of apps always made me laugh. I find that the 12 or 15 apps I have installed handle what I need and the built-in features establish less need for niche' apps. Obviously it's all a personal opinion/preference matter, for me Android just wasn't it (yes there were tons of apps but if you narrowed it down to good and useful apps the number is reduced dramatically and that applies to an app ecosystem). WindowsPhone is a very capable platform with some great devices.
anonymous 2 January, 2013 23:22
Erm...
Whatsapp came out on WP8 3 weeks ago, and was available on WP7 for over a year...
Google Whatsapp Windows Phone 8...
anonymous 3 January, 2013 10:44
"For the people who seem to think wp8 is better than android must be on acid absolutely tripping their heads off"
Nah. We just own devices that run both (Lumia 820 and Nexus 7 in my case) so we can make objective comparisons rather than coming across as a clueless fanboy like you.
anonymous 5 February, 2013 09:30
Perfect for quick access to connectivity settings
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/one-click/2b9f646d-ac1f-4c55-80fe-c5a00a7e2bd5