Microsoft released its first mobile application for Google Android, signaling that Microsoft wants to expand its mobile footprint beyond its own platforms and that it sees Google Android as a worthy competitor and, therefore, a necessary ally.
Microsoft this week said it released a new version of its Tag scanning application specifically for Google Android. It's the first time Microsoft has built an app for Google Android. Tag is also available on the Apple iPhone, J2ME, Symbian S60, Research In Motion BlackBerry and, of course, Windows Mobile devices.
The free Tag application is a bar-code reader that lets users point their phone's camera at a bar code, take a picture, and have the Tag application interpret it for instant access to Web sites, video content, reviews, schedules, contact information, social networks, discounts, promotions and other materials.
Microsoft revealed that Tag was available for Google Android in a blog post this week.
"It's important to give more people access to Tag because there's huge demand for reliable mobile bar-coding -- businesses and consumers are eager to find creative ways to use their phone and hyperlink the real world," Benjamin Gauthey from Microsoft's Tag team wrote in the blog.
Gauthey continued: "My morning coffee tastes a little sweeter today because we continue to expand the availability of Microsoft Tag and added our Tag Reader for Google Android -- it is now available for download directly from the Android Market on your Android phone by searching for 'Microsoft Tag'. I'd like to welcome all new users to the Microsoft Tag community."
While Microsoft is offering up Tag on Google Android, it is not waving the white flag. Instead, the software giant is putting its hand in as many mobile cookie jars as possible.
Microsoft delivering an application via Google Android comes as it preps the recast of its Windows Mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7, for the market. Microsoft Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft's bid to recapture mobile market share and refresh stagnating Windows Mobile sales with a fresh consumer- and business-focused perspective.
Microsoft Tag for Google Android is available now in the Android Market.
