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Microsoft (MSFT) Windows Phone App Store is Growing...Barely (AAPL)

May 13, 2013 11:43 AM EDT
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) is continuing to add mobile apps to its Windows Phone (WP8) store, but at a much slower pace than some might expect.

Following an announcement last October that the WP8 store had about 120,000 apps, Microsoft said last Friday that the number is now at about 145,000 apps. That's 21 percent growth in about six months.

By comparison, Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) had about 800,000 apps in its App Store as of last January.

Microsoft is most likely focusing more on quality over quantity. Earlier in May, it was reported that Hulu would be coming to WP8. The reviewer on the app said the design was simple, smooth, and spot-on, potentially providing for a more enjoyable experience.

While certain apps could benefit from better design, most, like getting fast sports updates or the latest weather forecast, might not to be centered around experience so much as function. Having just a fraction of the app selection that competitors have won't help solve Microsoft's sales problem either. If a user likes the platform, but sees there's no programs to use, it's likely they'll pass up the device for something else.

Shares of Microsoft are about flat Monday after being up at the open.


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