NEWS REVIEWS SOFTWARES MOBILE GADGETS GAMING HACKING LAPTOPS INTERNET MICROSOFT & NOKIA TO INVEST €18 MILLION IN APP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM “APPCAMPUS”

 
Despite the number of apps in their marketplace exceeding 65,000, Windows Phone has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to properly compete with the half a million apps offered by Apple and Android.

With the lack of must-have apps available on the Windows Phone combined with the need to increase this number to appeal to consumers, Microsoft and Nokia have announced a deal which will see them invest up to €18 million in a new mobile application development program called ‘AppCampus‘.

The program, which will be led and managed by Aalto University in Finland, will begin in May 2012 and last for three years. It has been set up to foster the creation of innovative and unique apps for the Windows Phone, and by extension, the Nokia platforms Symbian and Series 40.

The scheme will provide training in mobile technology, design and usability and funding for what they define as  ”mobile entrepreneurs”, while Aalto University shall contribute by providing premises, coaching services and access to both academic and business networks for potential app developers.

The executive vice president of Nokia Corp Kai Öistämö, said that the partnership between Microsoft, Nokia and Aalto University “will allow developers to ideate and monetize business opportunities globally, via both Windows Phone Marketplace and Nokia Store”.

With Nokia now using Windows Phone as its operating system, the scheme will further strengthen the ties between the two companies, but it’s the start of a long battle as they try to convince developers to make apps for them. A survey from app researcher Distimo found that only 37 per cent of developers are keen to make apps for Windows Phone, compared to the 89 per cent interested in the iPhone and 79 per cent interested in Android phones.