Following the more formal reveal for Windows Phone 7's Mango update, details of a web-ready version of Windows Phone Marketplace emerged on Wednesday. Much like the native app on the phones themselves, customers will be able to browse the catalog, view screenshots, read app details and reviews, and then pay for and download selected apps and games. Marketplace uses Bing Virtual Search to help a user pore through the available apps.
It will support varied purchasing, including try-before-you-buy and carrier billing. Purchases can be paid for using the user's credit card information stored in their Windows Live ID account. Microsoft has added one-click social network sharing of app information through e-mail, Facebook or Twitter, which the company believes will help build up Marketplace's popularity.
Marketplace will be available when Mango ships later this year and follows months after Android Market and BlackBerry App World were available on the web. Apple allows showing individual apps on the web, but not the whole App Store.
