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We have received word over from MyNokiaBlog that they have reports from “a source familiar with Microsoft’s licensing scheme” concerning the Windows Phone’s license fee which stands at $25 per handset, while those who have picked up Windows RT will have to fork out $90 a pop for the license fee itself. This might not sound like much in the long run, but it still adds up eventually to your final device price, and in earlier rumors, it seems that the respective license fees stand at $15 more affordable.

In terms of cheap and affordable handsets, having such a high license fees would definitely place it at a distinct disadvantage compared to the Android mobile operating system. Let us not even more to iOS territory since everything there is in house, not to mention that the “budget” iPhone 5c does not exactly come with a pocket friendly price, either. Apart from that, whispers have been going around that Microsoft is mulling over whether to make Windows Phone free or not by killing off the license fees program, which could be a good idea should Microsoft be able to increase its user base and earn more in return from the sales of apps, music and other paid services on their mobile platform.

Windows Phone License Fees Stands At $25, Windows RT $90, Says Source original content from Ubergizmo.

While apps might technically have been around for a while, even on feature phones where one could download a limited selection of applications for their phones, it’s safe to say that it was thanks to iOS that apps really took off, which is why it is not surprising that the iTunes App Store numbers more than a million apps, along with the Google Play store for Android, showing how important and how popular apps are these days. Unfortunately for the likes of Windows Phone, apps aren’t as varied compared to iOS and Android, but the good news is that they’re slowly getting there.

According to a recent blog post published by Microsoft, it was revealed that the Windows Phone Store now boasts over 200,000 apps to date. Granted this is only a fraction of what iOS and Android has, but like we said they are slowly getting there. Microsoft has been luring and encouraging developers to develop for their platform, and their latest win would be finally getting Instagram onto Windows Phone after what seemed like an eternity. We’re not sure how long it will take for Microsoft to catch up to iOS and Android, but what do Windows Phone owners think so far? Are you starting to notice a lot more variety compared to before?

Windows Phone Store Boasts Over 200,000 Apps original content from Ubergizmo.

Are you feeling sore that as a Windows Phone device owner, your handset does not support the Pebble smartwatch? Well, there is a ray of hope at the moment which while, it is not official, it will still be able to play nice with the Windows Phone 8 platform. If you have an idea as to how download as well as install an app over from the Windows Phone Store, you would be able to enable your Windows Phone-powered device with your Pebble smartwatch.

The app’s name is Pebble Watch Pro, and after it has been installed on your Windows Phone 8 device, you should be able to check out your tweets, calendar notifications and network alerts right there on the Pebble smartwatch itself. Not only that, why not use the app to alert you whenever your smartphone’s battery drops to levels such as 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% or 10%. Not only that, you will also be on the receiving end of a notification whenever you lose or regain access to your 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi connection. The app itself will cost $1.99 on the Windows Phone Store, and there is also a free version of it if you like, known as the Pebble Watch Lite, but the functions on that would be extremely limited, as in, to control your music playback only.

Pebble Watch Pro Offers Unofficial Windows Phone 8 Support original content from Ubergizmo.

Samsung makes a plethora of Android devices each year, devices that cater to high-end, mid-range and low-end markets. However, it doesn’t make as many Windows Phone devices. Microsoft certainly wants its mobile platform to flourish, and for that it needs to get major OEMs on board. It recently acquired the devices and services division of its biggest OEM, Nokia. While Samsung won’t be selling its hardware division any time soon, rumor has it that Microsoft is offering $1 billion in support to the company if it continues to make Windows Phone devices.

A deal of this nature isn’t unusual. Prior to its acquisition of Nokia’s division, Microsoft was paying the Finnish manufacturer $250 million per quarter in “platform support payments,” but it got money back as well since Nokia was paying it to license Windows Phone. However the deal might sound feasible to Samsung given the fact that it is being rumored that Microsoft is considering waiving Windows Phone licensing fees for OEMs altogether. There’s no official confirmation from either company that $1 billion is going to change hands, the rumor has spread through well known mobile blogger Eldar Murtazin, who is known to have connections. Though since nothing is official yet, its best to take this rumor with a grain of salt.

Microsoft Reportedly Offers Samsung $1 Billion If It Continues To Make Windows Phone Devices original content from Ubergizmo.

Microsoft has obviously been putting in a lot of time and resources into its mobile operating systems, Windows RT and particularly Windows Phone. It is up against behemoths like Android and iOS which already rule the globe mobile device market. Microsoft has seen its market share increase this year, and its acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services division is likely to aid the increase as well in the coming year. As per a new report by The Verge, Microsoft is considering waiving licensing fees for Windows Phone and Windows RT, which means that device manufacturers won’t have to pay to run these operating systems on their devices.

This plan is said to be under “serious consideration” by OS chief Terry Myerson, however it is believed that nothing has been decided upon at this point in time. Such a move will mean that Microsoft will lose out on licensing revenues from other OEMs as well. Nokia’s made some of the best selling Windows Phone devices, but now that its division is under Microsoft, the company will lose out on those licensing revenues as well. It is expected that Microsoft will try to make up for the revenue loss through apps and services, the company has experimented with running ads in Windows 8 apps so something along the same lines can be implemented in those operating systems as well. The aim is to combat Android, but it remains to be seen if free versions of its mobile operating systems will entice OEMs to develop more Windows Phone and Windows RT powered devices.

Microsoft Reportedly Considering Waiving Windows Phone And Windows RT Licensing Fees original content from Ubergizmo.