Windows Phone Thoughts: No Secrets in the Windows Phone Application Store

"Apple's App Store has run into a few widely publicized controversies over its acceptance policies for applications, of which Microsoft seems aware. During June's TechEd conference, Microsoft offered up a document on its Windows Phone for Developers Website, clearly delineating its content policies; in addition to forbidding applications that are libelous, slanderous, threatening or discriminatory, Microsoft also bans applications that somehow promote hate speech, the use of illegal drugs and excessive alcohol consumption, and violence."

Given some of the anger Apple has elicited from developers over applications that haven't been allowed into the app store, Microsoft should have a fairly easy time doing a better job of application approval than Apple has done. I haven't seen any mention of barring applications that "duplicate functionality", so I really hope that's not part of the plan. If someone wants to build a better Web browser, then they should be allowed - and encouraged - to do so.