document: Windows Phone 7 and the Unimportance of Apps Microsoft says that Windows Phone 7 '' `` s app marketplace is booming . In a chest-beating blog post , Microsoft revealed that WinPho7 '' `` s app count stands at 11,500 , and that 's without wallpapers or duplicate apps in different languages . The ecosystem has 36,000 developers , 60 percent of which have n't even published anything yet , so the potential for growth is huge . Still , some tech pundits , such as Robert Scoble , insist that a lack of apps is the only reason Windows Phone 7 has n't been a rousing success . How can this be true if the Windows Phone Marketplace is hopping with activity ? First , a bit of qualification : We do n't know with absolute certainty that Windows Phones are n't selling . Microsoft has only said how many phones it 's sold to retailers -LRB- 1.5 million as of late December -RRB- , not the number of people who 've actually bought one . But LG has expressed disappointment with sales , and one U.K. retailer claimed that Android phones outsell Windows Phones by a 15 to 1 ratio . It 's safe to say that Windows Phone 7 has n't been a rousing success . Windows Phone 7 '' `` s Real Challenges But is a lack of apps to blame ? I doubt it . When I consider which phone to buy or recommend to friends , I 'm quick to rule out Windows Phone 7 , but not because of apps . The platform 's lack of multitasking and HTML5 support are much bigger drawbacks . Same with copy and paste , at least until Microsoft finishes rolling out the '' `` NoDo '' '' software update . And until Windows Phones come to Verizon Wireless , the number of people who can even consider the platform is limited . Windows Phone 7 hardware has also been unimpressive so far . Most handsets do n't have front-facing cameras . None have dual-core processors . Most lack expandable storage , which would n't be an issue if they included more than 8 GB or 16 GB of on-board storage . Every time an Android phone pushes the hardware envelope , Windows Phone 7 falls further behind . If none of those issues existed , apps might linger in the back of my mind , but I doubt it . After all , Windows Phone 7 has a great gaming platform in Xbox Live . It has apps for Facebook , Twitter , Yelp , Shazam , IMDB and even Netflix , which Android still lacks . With Microsoft 's new stats in mind , I simply do n't buy the argument that apps are holding the platform back . If anything , they 're the biggest bright spot for Windows Phone 7 so far .
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