Computerworld calls this market changing but I’m not so sure. Here’s the skinny: when you buy an app from the Windows Marketplace for WinMo you can share that app with four people you know. You can also get a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. You can also run the apps on up to five of your own devices if you don’t want to share.
This move is supposed to help the Marketplace grow at a healthy clip an ensure that folks don’t go suffer too much when they download a fart app for WinMo 6.5 that doesn’t live up to expectations. It should also reduce piracy:
Microsoft will use its LiveID authentication system for tracking. “It will be very hard for the casual, semi-casual or semi-pro user to pirate apps,” Bouie said.
Yeah, right.
I don’t know that this is really “market changing.” iPhone and iPod Touch apps can be shared on up to 5 computers that are authorized in iTunes; and, for that matter, since you can sync with unlimited devices, that means you would theoretically be able to have an app on as many devices as you want.
Seems like all the WinMo sharing feature gets you is limitations.