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Microsoft extends mobile apps access to Windows 6.0 and 6.1 handsets

Owners of Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 devices, such as the HTC Touch Pro2 and Samsung Omnia smartphones, can now access the mobile apps available in Microsoft's Windows Marketplace.

The software giant's added support for the devices brings them in line with Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets, with around 400 mobile apps currently available for download in the Marketplace. Analysts note, however, that the sum is still "woeful" in comparison to Apple's 100,000 mobile apps, the 12,000 mobile apps available from Android and Blackberry's 2,000 applications.

"We're delighted to bring the benefits of Marketplace to even more people, and give Windows phone developers the opportunity to reach more than 30 million devices worldwide," Microsoft states on its Windows Phone Blog.

"To get Marketplace for a Windows Mobile 6.0 or 6.1 based device, customers can simply point their phone's browser here to start the download process; from the web, customers can visit here," it continues.

Figures released by IT analysts Gartner this week highlight that Google's Android platform has nudged ahead of the Windows Mobile operating system in recent months, capturing 3.5 per cent of the market in contrast to Windows' three per cent.