Here in the United States, today is Windows Phone 7 Day. Similar to October 21st in Europe, November 8th is the day Microsoft launches its new phone ecosystem in North America. As a Zune MVP I am happy to welcome all the new users who get to experience the Zune Software with their new Windows Phones. Be sure to check out our Tips & Tricks to learn more about the Zune experience. Though there are a number of great resources to check out the Windows Phone 7 device experience, I want to focus on the software side. In particular, let us focus on the app marketplace, better known as the App Hub. A larger version of the Zune HD variant, App Hub is where you go to put apps on your Windows Phone. From your phone, tap the Marketplace tile. From the Zune software navigate to Marketplace > apps, making sure you select Windows Phone as your device from the left column.

When choosing to purchase a smartphone, one thing people consider is the popularity of one smartphone ecosystem in relation to its competitors. While there are a number of ways to gauge smartphone popularity, including internet browser market share and new phone purchases, the number of apps in a given marketplace has become a good indicator of ecosystem popularity. This holds true because mobile internet and app use are coming to define the smartphone experience. In particular, Microsoft stated that its aspirational users were “life-maximizers” looking to get the most from their phones. If cell phone usage is expanding beyond just calling and texting, then apps play a large role in that expansion of services provided by the phone. To an extent, the number of apps can be seen as a determinant in the level of additional functionality a cell phone can provide. As a result, more functionality via apps (that get you in and out quickly) is seen as a desirable trait in a smartphone ecosystem. From another point of view, the number of apps in a given marketplace can also be seen as a measure of interest among mobile software developers hoping to make money selling apps within different smart phone ecosystems. These two views of smartphone popularity are complementary, as I would think people want apps to use on their phone and developers want people to use their apps. To this end below are some facts about the popularity of the Windows Phone 7 App Hub, as told by the apps.

App Quantity

With this information coming straight from the Windows Phone 7 App Hub, for its North American launch, App Hub has a catalog of over 1,600 apps. This is over three time the number of apps that launched with the Apple App Store (500+) in July of 2008 and more than twenty-six times the number of apps that accompanied the Android Market (62) in October of the same year. Excluding apps released in the twenty-four day interim between the North American and European launches, App Hub had about 670 apps at the European launch.

It is worth noting that when looking at app totals roughly eight months out from the initial release of the developer tools between Windows Phone 7 and iOS, Apple takes a clear lead. By October 2008 there were 7,500 apps available within the Apple ecosystem. Keep in mind the App Store launched in July, not October, on second generation hardware (iPhone 3G) versus first generation chassis specifications. Interestingly, both Windows Phone 7 and the iOS developer tools were released in March of the respective years their platforms launched. When comparing the number of Windows Phone apps to that of the Android Market it is important to understand that at launch Android did not support paid apps until roughly four months later. Similar to Android and Palm’s (which now owned by HP) marketplace initializations, up to this point App Hub app submissions were somewhat limited to a number of developers with early access. As of November 4th, that restriction has been lifted. With App Hub early access a thing of the past, perhaps the number of apps available in the marketplace will grow at a faster rate than it has already.

App Pricing

The average (arithmetic mean) price for all Windows Phone 7 apps is $1.19. When averaging just paid apps, that average rises roughly $0.50 to $1.68. Below is a graph showing the price distribution of Windows Phone apps.

The median app price is $0.99. I addition to being the median, $0.99 is the most common price for an app, followed by the free apps. What is interesting to note is that a number of developers chose to sell their apps for $1.29. Though it only represents only 5% of all apps in the App Hub, $1.29 apps have an interesting place between the most and second most common price points among paid apps. Already, one app has made the jump from $1.99 to $1.29. As a percentage of total apps, free apps represent only 30% of apps for sale in the Windows Phone App Hub. Below is a chart showing app price distribution as a percentage.

In looking at the chart, it is important to note that, there are only twenty-four apps costing $5.99 or more, at this time. In comparison with the Apple App Store, the Windows Phone App hub has a similar percentage of free apps, 28% for iPhone versus 30% for Windows Phone 7. Looked at from the opposite side, this means that both iPhone and Windows Phone 7 have a similar percentage of paid apps comprising the rest of their respective marketplaces. However, both ecosystems pale in comparison to the Android Market which has almost double the percentage of free apps at 57%.

App Fun Facts

A.k.a. The real questions you have when someone counts apps. Below are some things I came across in counting the apps:

• There are 14 Fart Apps in the App Hub. The first two (SqueakBox and Farting Dino) were released on the same day.
• There are 37 Tip Calculators (developer Jeffrey Strasser was the first to this party of 37).
• Some apps are released on weekends (Check out Max & the Magic Marker or XKCD – yes, there’s an app for the site!).
• The most expensive app is $29.99 (Bencao: Chinese Herbal Medicine).
• Looking at my info, App Hub did hit 1,000 apps around October 25th.

Within the first 1,600+ apps there is a lot more analysis to be had. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to clean up and post some more findings. One final thought, while the App Hub does not list download numbers for individual apps, the number of apps available at both the North American and European launches are a great indication of developer support for the ecosystem. Considering it takes foresight to choose to develop an app, the fact that so many apps already exist in this new smartphone ecosystem (with at least one already being ported from iPhone) could be seen, in part, as a good indicator of the future success of Windows Phone 7, as far as app quantity is concerned.