Microsoft to Remove App Marketplace Access via Zune

Microsoft is apparently removing its Zune PC software access for the Windows Phone App Marketplace. This means that users will not be able to use Zune to buy phone apps from the store. A spokesperson from Microsoft, Mazhar Mohammaed said, “As a general rule, we like to focus our engineering efforts where they matter most, and your taps and clicks tell us that’s our phone and web stores. So starting today we began the process of removing the Windows Phone apps option from the Zune software.”

With reference to another part of the announcement which stated that all Windows Phones are now required to use the latest Windows Phone 7.5 OS to access apps in the Marketplace, Mohammed said, “If you don’t update to Windows Phone 7.5, you’ll still be able to browse Marketplace. But you’ll get an error message if you try to install an app or game, or update one that is already on your phone.” The update to Windows Phone 7.5 OS will include features such as automatic cloud syncing on Microsoft’s SkyDrive, Facebook chat, multitasking, custom ring tones, battery saver, visual voice mail, enhanced media messaging and a new threading system. Have you updated your Windows Phone to version 7.5 yet?