The release of the iPhone OS 2.0 and the success of the App Store have encouraged aspiring developers to create a wide variety of apps to expand the capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch. They have also encouraged developers of successful programs for other platforms to bring their apps over to Apple’s mobile platform—particularly apps written for Windows Mobile smartphones and PDAs.
I got my start with the Windows Mobile platform, and with Aximsite.com and Mobilitysite.com. I even judged Smartphone magazine’s yearly software awards a few times. So when I switched over to the iPhone 3GS and started looking at what was available in the App Store, I noticed that a lot of my favorite Windows Mobile developers, ones I’ve known and respected for years, were porting their successful apps to the iPhone.
This article showcases some of my favorite Windows Mobile software developers and the apps they have brought to the iPhone/iPod touch platform. They are listed alphabetically.
Making smart choices
As I mentioned earlier in the article, I got my start with Windows Mobile and have some loyalty to the platform. I have to admit that when I first saw iPhone apps being released by these developers, I felt like it was a bit of a sellout. But in thinking about it for a while, I realized that they were just making smart choices.
The iPhone software/app infrastructure is much better than that of the Windows Mobile market right now. There are thousands of great apps for Windows Mobile devices, but they’re scattered all over the place right now. And in addition to working on iPhone apps, all of the developers mentioned in this article continue to update their Windows Mobile lineups.
I asked Amit Regev of SBSH Mobile Software why they decided to develop applications for the iPhone; here’s what he had to say:
“As a company that develops cross-platform solutions, the move to the iPhone platform was the natural step for us. During the first few months following the first iPhone release, more and more SBSH users were coming back to us asking for an iPhone version of our applications. This raised a natural need to port our best-selling Windows Mobile applications to the iPhone platform… We plan to release three new iPhone apps in the first quarter of 2010.”
So if you loved your Dell Axim or HTC Touch Pro and the companies that made great software for them, you’re in luck. They’re making great software for your iPhone.
