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Microsoft recently announced that the marketplace would be the only way for users to install applications onto their Windows Phone 7 Series handset. Looking at the iPhone, Apple is doing the same thing, making the App Store the only official download center for the iPhone and iPod touch. It doesn’t take a genius to wonder if Microsoft will hold the same authority over the Marketplace Apple is over the iPhone’s App Store (no cookie cutter or sexy apps). To avoid the same fate as Apple, Microsoft is saying it will take more of an objective approach to applications made by third parities. Microsoft will even go as far as to publish requirements for WP7 developers to guide developers and allow them to test it themselves. Microsoft even went as far as to say it will not be denied if it meets all the criteria as well as hinting that private company distribution (ad hoc) will also be possible using a USB cable.

Source: istartedsomething

Engadget has come across all the different prototypes currently existing for Windows Phone 7, side by side. The one to the left is the Samsung handset we just finished covering, in the middle was the poster child of Windows Phone 7 at MWC 2010, and to the right is the slider that was first introduced at the Engadget Show a while back. There’s no detailed specs on the phones other than what Microsoft laid down as the requirment for running Windows Phone 7 for OEMs. Hopefully that will change soon.

Image Source: Engadget

Among the endless stream of Windows Phone 7 stuff, we couldn’t help but notice this – an as of yet unnamed Windows Phone 7 Series handset by Samsung. No one will officially comment on the specs, so not much is actually known about it. Keeping in mind Microsoft’s minimum requirements for Windows Phone 7, we know it has a 5MP camera with flash, FM radio, at least 256MB of RAM, a capacitive multi-touch WVGA screen, and that it’s equal to or better than the other prototype phones with the mobile OS. It’s nearly the same as the Omnia HD on the outside.

Source: Slashgear

Sad news for anyone who has a HTC HD2 smartphone or plans on picking one up soon: Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore has come right out and confirmed that the Windows Mobile phone will not be getting Windows Phone 7 Series because it is not complaint with hardware specifications required to run the OS. This puts the phone, which has not even yet been released in the US, in shaky grounds. Even more odd enough is that every Microsoft employee at MIX has one with them.

MIX 2010 started, and one thing quickly grabbed everyone’s eye: Windows Phone 7 Series Marketplace, and it’s sexy. Besides from its charming good looks, it has support for ad supported content, operator billing, and credit card charges. There’s also a try before you buy option similar to what Android has to offer, but developers get to pick the terms and the fine detailed things, like time of trial. The UI looks identical to rest of the well-polished OS and has a panoramic view where the user can see categories and titles, as well as get more information on their app that they’re seeking, including pricing, screenshots, reviews, and ratings.

Who are among the first to launch their apps for Windows Phone 7 Series? Well, these guys:

AWS Convergence Technologies, WeatherBug, Citrix Systems Inc., Clarity Consulting Inc., Cypress Consulting, EA Mobile, Fandango Inc., Foursquare Labs Inc., frog design inc., Glu Mobile Inc., Graphic.ly, Hudson Entertainment Inc., IdentityMine Inc., IMDb.com Inc., Larva Labs, Match.com LLC, Matchbox Mobile Ltd., Microsoft Game Studios, Namco Networks America Inc., Oberon Media Inc., Pageonce Inc., Pandora Media Inc., Photobucket Inc., PopCap Games Inc., Seesmic, Shazam Entertainment Ltd., Sling Media, SPB Software Inc., stimulant, TeleCommunications Systems Inc., Touchality LLC and Vertigo Software Inc

A nice, smooth set of first developers, but unless the platform gets lots of good apps quickly, it won’t be going anywhere. One of the biggest selling points on the iPhone is apps, over 140,000 of them. When a consumer is deciding whether to buy a WP7S phone or iPhone, one thing that they’ll think over is apps. Since apps extend what the phone can do, the consumer might be attracted more to the iPhone if the app catalog is as skimpy as the Zune HD’s catalog.

Oh, and it’s the only way to install apps on your Windows Phone.

We’ll know more soon, and keep checking back for the latest.