Singapore’s MoVend, a mobile in-app payments platform, is working with Nokia to rescue the Windows Phone.
They’re organizing a contest for developers to integrate MoVend into their apps, hence providing Windows Phone 7 with a real in-app payment solution they lack.
Despite the recent marketing push, it still lags behind iOS and Android in market share. According to Gartner, Windows Phone is capturing only one percent of market share in Asia for Q3 2011, lagging behind even Symbian and Blackberry.
They are also trying to close the gap in the sheer volume of apps on the Windows Marketplace. It currently has 65,000 apps, compared to iOS’s 600,000 and Android’s 500,000.
Developers from Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia could win US$2,000 worth of Nokia Lumia handsets if their apps are picked. All they need to do is submit the XAP file via MoVend’s online dashboard.
Submitted apps will be weighed by a panel from Nokia and MoVend, based on design (25%), usability (50%) and creativity (25%).
The contest is open from 2nd April to 15th May, and winners will be announced on 1st June. More details can be found on the MoVend site.
Beyond this initiative, Microsoft has been reportedly paying anywhere from US$60,000 to US$600,000 for companies to put their apps on the Windows Marketplace.
It’s a smart move for sure, and definitely good for consumers. But only time will tell if these rewards, and the launch of the Lumia 900, is enough for the Windows Phone to become a firm third option for smartphone users.
More about MoVend.
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