Sure, Microsoft already has an app store for Windows Mobile, called Windows Marketplace for Mobile. But like most official app stores, the Windows Marketplace requires developers to submit apps for approval, pay some cash, and jump through other hoops that might turn off small, independent developers.

And that’s where XDA Market comes in. This is a brand new third party market developed by a member of the xda-developers forum. The idea is that anyone can upload apps for free, and they can even upload apps that will only work on one specific device — generally a big no-no in the official app store world.

The XDA Market consists of a web interface for uploading and managing apps and a Windows Mobile client allowing users to download apps. There aren’t any apps at the moment, because you know, the market is brand spanking new. But if the project takes off, it should become an interesting place to find third party, independent apps for Windows Mobile. And if it really takes off, I suspect the system will become really, really slow because it’s being hosted on the developer’s home server.

You can download the Windows Mobile installer file from the xda-developers forum.

Brad Linder

Brad Linder is editor of Liliputing and Mobiputing. He's been tinkering with mobile tech for decades and writing about it since 2006. Brad has also worked with NPR, WHYY, PRI, and AOL.

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