When it comes to smartphones, many elite users often scoff at Microsoft’s offering – Windows Phone.

It’s true that Windows Phone isn’t as popular as the Android/iOS duopoly, but just because it’s not got as many fans doesn’t mean it’s a bad system. Microsoft is aware of its ranking and is taking steps to get more customers. One solution being adopted is having an app store with the apps users want.

The Windows Phone store is Microsoft’s version of Apple App store or Google Play. Like the other platforms, this is the hub for all things Windows Phone. Almost all apps for devices running the OS can be found here.

Yes, the number of apps lags far behind the two bigger platforms, with slightly over 150,000 apps compared to Android and iOS which both have around 700,000 apps. However, this is no reason to write off the platform. In fact, in 2012 the number of apps in the Windows Phone store increased by over 75,000. Not only did the store grow, but so did the number of regional consumer markets. At the beginning of 2012 there was 35 regional markets, and by the end of 2012 this number had grown to 191.

According to a recent blog post on the Microsoft Windows blog, Microsoft is aiming to create a foundation for their mobile system. They started late last year with the release of Windows Phone 8. In 2013 they will continue to add to this foundation vetting all apps before they make it into the store, in an effort to keep malware away from devices.

Phones running the Windows Phone 8 OS offer a solid platform that users can trust. Who knows, it could really take off in 2013. If you’re interested in learning more about how Windows Phone 8 can be integrated into your business, give us a call.