A number of web sites have been tracking how many Windows 8 "Modern" apps have been made available in the Windows Store since the RTM version of the OS was completed in August. The most optimistic report claimed that there are currently over 3,000 apps available in the store. While well below the numbers for iOS, Android and even Windows Phone, that"s still pretty good for an OS that"s won"t officially launch for over two more weeks.
But does Microsoft have a ton of Windows 8 apps waiting in the wings? That seems to be the claim from Keith Lorizio, the vice-president of US Sales and Marketing at Microsoft. In a video interview with Beet.tv, conduced during last week"s Advertising Week event in New York City, Lorizio says that Microsoft is targeting for Windows 8 to have 100,000 apps available within the first 90 days of its launch.
That"s a rather ambitious number. After all, it took Windows Phone nearly two years to reach the 100,000 app mark. On the other hand, Windows 8 will be installed in a much larger number of devices (desktops, notebooks, hybrids) than Windows Phone so perhaps Lorizio"s prediction may not be completely crazy.
Lorizio also predicted that Windows 8 would have 400 million users by July 2013. He said that Windows 8 was going to be a success because of its "massive distribution", along with giving the user the same experience across all devices in the Microsoft family (Windows 8, Windows Phone and Xbox 360).
Update: A Microsoft spokesperson sent Neowin a statement which seems to distance itself from Lorizio"s quotes, saying, "Per our usual policy, we aren’t making any predictions on adoption for Windows 8 before it hits the market.”
Source: Beet.tv | Image via OWN