Nokia and Microsoft to “share” app marketplace on partnered handsets

The Microsoft/Nokia deal is still being hammered out, but that is not stopping Microsoft from hiring the people who it will need to make the partnership work.

A job posting has shed some very interesting light on an important section of the deal: how will the WP7 app marketplace function? Many assumed that Nokia would have a section inside of the current WP7 marketplace, giving it a prime location, but still a derivative spot. That might not be the case.

According to the job posting, Microsoft needs someone to help them “develop the service software to power the shared application marketplace for Nokia and Microsoft alliance. [The job] will explore, prototype and design the integration between two marketplaces.”

That certainly does not sound like what we had expected. Instead it seems that Nokia is planning on being a force on the phones that they create, controlling distribution of some software to them, and keeping their brand presence on the handsets intact. You can hardly blame them; no other mobile company will be as tied to WP7 as Nokia will be in a few years.

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The term “shared application marketplace,” however, is a bit sticky, but does not seem to put either company on top. We are loath to overreach with prediction, but we like to see what Nokia is doing: staying as independent as possible.  This is the full job posting, typos included:

Software Development Engineer, Senior – MCB – Windows Phone (748671)

Job Category: Software Engineering: Development
Location: United States, WA, Redmond
Job ID: 748671
Product: Windows Phone
Division: Mobile Communication Business
Microsoft + Nokia partnership is a big bet on us creating a vibrant ecosystem for mobile developers. You are invited to create software to power the application marketplace for this alliance.

We are looking for a seasoned developer who excels in design, coding, and delivery of great software service. Just last week Nokia and Microsoft announced a broad sweeping worldwide partnership http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/feb11/02-11partnership.mspx>. The Commerce Services development team in Windows Phone Services will develop the service software to power the shared application marketplace for Nokia and Microsoft alliance. You will explore, prototype and design the integration between two marketplaces. Your job will entain creating a consistent set of APIs, workflow systems, and data systems. You will partner with end-user expeirence teams to deliver seemless developer and end-user experience. You will get exposure to worldwide developer demands hungry to create 1000s of applications for the application marketplaces. Take this job and make history with your awesome contributions.

I am looking for a developer who can design well, think broadly, and code well. You will drive the integration architecture, API designs, data driven system design, and develop high quality services that runs worldwide. You need to have maturity to cut through ambiguity and arrive at elegant solutions. You will be called on to mentor junior developers and help create a high performing team environment. You also will be exposed to the challenging opportunities that are part of being in a highly competitive industry for the phone services.

Your qualifications should include 8+ years of softwarew development being part of a couple of versions of shipping products. You understand managed code APIs and design framework. You have strong grounding in data designs and passion for handling integration designs. You enjoy sharing your knowledge with other developers and testers to make others great. It is preferable for you to have had experience working with external companies in developing cross-company products. It is desirable for you to have expeirence in developing and running services software including workflow software. A BS or MS in computer science or related discipline is preferred.

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