Microsoft has just revealed the number apps available on Windows and Windows Phone stores.
The Redmond-based firm has updated its ‘by the numbers’ page to reveal that both stores now boast a combined total 560,000 apps.
This means the stores have gained 35,000 new apps since November 14th, when the total was a more meagre 525,000.
Flashback to June 27 and the stores tout a positively paltry 400,000 apps, revealing a 160,000 app growth in just six months.
Windows Phone is often berated for its lack of apps compared to iOS and Android, both of which can claim upwards of 1.3 million apps each on their respective stores.
It’s not just the number apps that Windows Phone is teased over too; it’s actually missing several core apps, not least Instagram and Snapchat, two of the most popular social apps in existence.
Users are instead forced to find alternative apps, which can sometimes pose a risk to device security – Microsoft wiped its stores clean of third-party Snapchat apps late last year for this very reason.
Related: Windows 10 release date, features, preview, download and price
So why is Windows Phone such a barren, tumbleweed-siring wasteland? We jest, of course, but there’s no denying that the lower app count come down to simple numbers – apps made for iOS and Android make more money.
This is largely due to the much bigger market share held by iOS and Android, but also because of demographics. iOS users have long been known to more susceptible to paying a premium for smartphone software, making Apple-approved apps a relative gold mine.
Still, this is great news for Microsoft and shows that devs are still keen to push out content on the platform, whether there’s a dearth of users or not.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
