Microsoft to tie up with telco to sell its applications, games

MUMBAI: Microsoft, which is in talks with major telcom operators to sell its various applications as well as games and bill it to the buyer's monthly mobile bill, said here today that it may announce a partner for this venture soon.

"We are in the process of announcing a telecom operator for the above facility within the next few months," Microsoft India director for Windows Phone category Vineet Durani told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of its latest smartphone, Windows Phone 8.1.

The idea is to allow customers to buy applications and games of their choice from Microsoft through their telecom operators which would charge for the same through their phone bills, he said.

Normally, such purchases are made through credit or debit card. However, Microsoft, which has over 4,15,000 applications for sale, felt that it may not work well here, since online payments are still only a fraction of the market.

Under the initiative, it would be the telecom operator's responsibility to collect payments for apps and games from buyers through their phone bills.