Windows Marketplace for Mobile gets PC access, improved developer tools

Microsoft has announced updates for its Windows Marketplace for Mobile platform, the company's application storefront for the Windows Mobile smartphone platform. Along with better anti-piracy protection and improved developer tools, Marketplace is now accessible on the web from a personal computer.

Users can now search, purchase, and download applications from marketplace.windowsphone.com on a PC. When a user purchases an app, the content will be automatically delivered, wirelessly, and installed on their Windows Mobile phone when the Marketplace application is loaded.

Developers will now have a better experience updating their application portals in Marketplace. Image uploading has been improved and the update adds greater transparency for account status. Anti-piracy protection has also been advanced.

Microsoft tells us that more updates will come for Windows Marketplace for Mobile before the end of the month.