Microsoft has revealed their first application which is compatible with Google’s Android mobile phone platform. The software which is named ‘Tag’ allows the handsets’ camera to scan barcode’s on items, allowing for products to be looked up online for price comparison’s or customer reviews.
Whilst it may seem a strange move to be developing applications for rivals by a firm who are currently attempting at re-entering the smartphone with their own platform, it is one that Microsoft has been involved in for some time. The computer giant created Seadragon for the iPhone in 2008, before releasing Tag for the iPhone, Blackberry, Symbian and their own system in 2009. In fact, whilst it may be the first time they have developed software for Google’s Android, Microsoft have been developing applications for rivals for some time, partly due to increase co-operation between developers. This is particularly important as subscribership in a waning market means that network operators and the mobile phone industry have to develop innovative ways of creating income.
Falling behind many of their rivals and only estimated to have a 9per cent share of the mobile platform market with their own Windows system, the announcement came as the firm continue to raise the profile of their latest product the Windows Phone 7 Series. Due to be launched later this year into a highly competitive and ever changing sector Microsoft will have high hopes that they can finally crack a market which, until now, has remained illusive to them.
