MSFT comes out with an Android app...no its not an April fool's joke :D
ashish_makani
MSFT seems to be rethinking it's mobile strategy & getting nimble
from [http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/03/microsoft-android-app/]
Microsoft Launches Its First Android App. Yes, Google’s Platform.
<snippet>
In December 2008, Microsoft surprised a lot of people by releasing an
iPhone app — Seadragon Mobile. A month later, they ensured the move
wasn’t taken as a joke or gimmick by launching another app, Tag, into
Apple’s App Store. Now, they have a few, including an app for Bing.
And starting today, they’re doing the same for Android.
Tag for Android is the first Microsoft-made app launched on the mobile
platform. This is notable, of course, because Android is the mobile
platform by Microsoft’s chief rival: Google. Still, as we saw with the
iPhone, Microsoft has no problems getting its technology out there,
even if it means using rival platforms. Aside from Android and iPhone,
Tag also currently works on Windows Mobile, J2ME, Blackberry and
Symbian S60 phones.
Microsoft’s Tag technology allows you to use your phone as a mobile
barcode reader. You simply point your phone’s camera at a tag (think:
a smaller QRCode), snap a picture, and the Tag program will interpret
it. This can be used to place things like coupons in physical
locations, for example. Other companies, including Google, are working
on these mobile barcodes as well. In fact, just prior to the Nexus One
unveiling, all Google employees were given the device with a special
barcode on the back that other Android devices could scan to get that
person’s information.
Despite the high level on animosity between Microsoft and Google, it’s
great to see that Microsoft isn’t above creating apps for the
increasingly popular Android platform. Microsoft made its own big
mobile headlines last month with the unveiling of Windows Phone Series
7, a complete reboot of its mobile strategy, due to launch later this
year. That move should help Microsoft better compete with the current
hot mobile platforms, Android and the iPhone.
The Tag application is available today in the Android Market; it’s a
free app.
</snippet>