Instagram and the need for applications on Windows Phone

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In recent days the rumor has spread that Instagram was preparing its application for Windows Phone. The idea jumps out with a Nokia promotional video in which appears a tile from an unknown application that many consider to be Instagram, although there are others who talk about Vimeo. The news already had a life of its own and, shortly after, other sources assured that a version of the popular photography application was in development and that it would arrive before the end of the year. To make matters worse, there is talk that it could be an exclusive for Nokia&39;s Lumia range and that Microsoft itself is developing it."

Whether the rumors or exaggerated speculations based on a misinterpretation of an image are true, the news brings an important issue to the table: third-party applications on Windows Phone Microsoft is suffering in its mobile system what its rivals experienced in personal computers: iOS and Android have gone further and accumulated a much larger market, which is why they attract more developers and, consequently, a greater number Of applications. Although from Redmond they speak of more than one hundred thousand applications, the truth is that they are still far from the numbers of their rivals

But behold, the numbers may not be as relevant as they seem, especially when it turns out that a high percentage of them are ignored by users. Deep down it's something normal, after all, who needs a hundred applications to use the mobile as a flashlight?

More than quantity the important thing seems to be in the quality of the applications and the services they provide.When an application becomes essential to the user, the system it runs on can take a backseat. What a large number of customers are concerned about is being able to use WhatsApp or Facebook and not so much if the mobile is Android, iOS or WP.

Microsoft and Nokia, testing strategies

It's fundamental. Dependency on a system generally derives from the applications that are available on it and not on others, so get all those that users consider essential becomes a matter of life and death. Microsoft needs those apps no matter what, so it can either have developers trust the capabilities of its system, or it can develop them itself, like they've done with Facebook and are rumored to be doing with Instagram.

In any case, this second option cannot be a long-term strategy and should only serve as an initial resource to attract those users who are reluctant to change due to the lack of this or that application.Windows Phone cannot live solely on applications that Microsoft (or Nokia) itself develops, it needs third parties to be relevant.

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And it is that Nokia could be another problem. The Finns have done it all in> and don&39;t have the variety of options available to other companies. So to attract those buyers who intend to take the leap, they secure temporary exclusivities of some applications, as it is rumored that they will do with Instagram."

This may work initially for Nokia, but I think it's a bit of a blow to Windows Phone in general Actions like this discourage other companies to bet on the Microsoft system and artificially restrict consumer choice. It seems as if the full experience could only be had with Nokia.It is a model closer to Apple, although with separate hardware and software, and further from the classic Microsoft of personal computers.

Be that as it may, whether we have Instagram on our brand new WP8 or not, the market for mobile systems is one of the keys to the future and applications are a decisive part of it, so I only hope that we have as much variety and quality of them as possible. Our smartphones need them.