A recent Wall Street Journal online article, by Nick Wingfield, spotlighted Microsoft and their plans to roll out a new series of programs and services for mobile phones. It is their attempt to catch up beat back competition like innovator Apple and their highly-successful App Store. Microsoft plans on offering a software site of their own, recognizing that he who attracts the most developers, wins.
Why is this important to those of us who follow the way of the Green ‘Droid? At the end of this WSJ article, Mr. Wingfield credits unknown insiders who claim that the Android Market will start offering paid apps this week:
This week Google will start allowing developers to charge for software sold through the Android Market, according to people familiar with the matter.
I like free apps just as much as the next person, but having the ability to start buying apps in the Android Market should result in two huge benefits, as far as I’m concerned: 1) higher-quality apps because developers can start making some scratch, and 2) more developers jumping on the Android development bandwagon because there’s money to be made. It sounds like this news couldn’t have come too soon. Are you excited for paid apps? How much are you willing to pay for a decent app for your Android phone?
[wsj]