Microsoft stops new apps to Marketplace

16 Aug 2012

Microsoft has temporarily stopped publishing new apps in the Windows Phone marketplace while it tries to fix a bug making it impossible for some users to download or upgrade some apps.

The bug only affects users with older Windows Phone devices they have upgraded to Windows Phone 7.5, which was released last September.

That means those with Nokia devices are unlikely to experience any issues, as the first Windows Phone device produced by the manufacturer last November featured the latest version of the operating system.

Though Microsoft said only a “small percentage” of apps were affected, those include popular choices such as The New York Times, and messaging service WhatsApp.

Microsoft said it was working on a fix for the problem, and would begin adding new apps to marketplace once that was rolled out.

Microsoft director of programme management Mazhar Mohammed wrote in a blog post: “If you get an error message while installing or updating an app, the best thing to do is wait for us to correct the problem, which we’re working to do as quickly as possible.

“I don’t recommend uninstalling any apps on your phone, since you likely won’t be able to download them again until the issue is resolved. Also, you’d lose any saved data for that app.

“Again, the vast majority of apps and games in Marketplace should install without trouble.”

Microsoft is playing catchup in the race to populate its app store. Though the firm recently announced it had passed the 100,000 app mark on Marketplace, it is still well behind Apple’s App Store which has more than 600,000 apps and Google Play, which offers around 500,000 apps.