Windows 8 Momentum Continues With Malaysian App Developers

Latest lifestyle apps created by Malaysian developers now available

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 November 2012 – Local software developers continue to demonstrate the growing momentum for Windows 8, accelerating the development, growth and diversity of Made-in Malaysia apps on the Windows Store.

Leading Malaysian brands today showcased their lifestyle apps to enhance customer experience for Windows 8 users. From breaking news updates and booking flight tickets to searching for properties and booking a taxi, among other features and innovations, the new apps from The Star Online, Malaysiakini, myStarjob.com, AirAsia, Sunway Group, iProperty, Resorts World Genting, MYDIN, DiGi, Yeylol, Soft Space and MyTeksi, are now available for download from the Windows Store.

From Left to Right: Mr. Andy Kelk, CIO (iProperty.com), Mr. Serm Teck Choon, Head (myStarjob.com), Mr. Chow Wei Heng, Vice President, National Marketing (Genting Malaysia Berhad), Mr. Gilbert Yap, Senior Manager, Online, New Media (Star Publications), Mr. Cheah Kok Hoong, Group CIO (Sunway Group), Mr. Dinesh Nair, Director, Developer and Platform Evangelism (Microsoft Malaysia), Mr. Matthew O'Leary, Head of Product Management, Technology & Innovation (AirAsia), Mr. Malik Murad Ali, IT Director (MYDIN), Miss Chuah Ee Chia, Mobile Platform Specialist (Malaysiakini), Mr. Aaron Gill, Product & Technical Lead (MyTeksi), Mr. Chang Chew Soon, Founder (Soft Space), Mr. Praveen Rajan Nadarajan, Head of Products - Internet & Services (DiGi), Mr. Tan Jian Sing, Director (Yeylol Technology)

“The momentum around Windows 8 continues as software developers are designing more and more innovative apps, demonstrating developer excitement about the unique opportunity represented by the Windows Store,” said Dinesh Nair, Director, Developer and Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Malaysia. “People want choices that fit their lifestyles and needs, and we are working together with leading local brands and the software developer community to create apps that people prefer and appreciate.”

The Windows Store features a wide range of international and local apps with many of the top free and paid apps consumers have come to know and love now available. Software developers are viewing the Windows Store as an unprecedented channel to reach hundreds of millions of customers in Malaysia and around the world.

Mr. Dinesh Nair, Director, Developer and Platform Evangelism (Microsoft Malaysia)

Users can already browse thousands of apps or use the Search Charm to quickly find the app they want on Windows Store. And, in many cases users can try the apps before they buy, so they don’t have to commit to an app they aren’t sure about. Windows Store is also cloud connected, which means that users’ settings automatically follow them across their Windows 8 devices and they can get to all the apps they have purchased on any device.

The Windows developer community is building and adding to the quality and breadth of the apps on the Windows Store. The Windows Store was opened to Malaysian developers in September this year, and Microsoft is continuing to partner with leading brands in Malaysia by working together with software developers and publishers to get their apps live. While investing to ensure a healthy growth and diverse ecosystems of apps, Microsoft is also taking advantage of the integrated way that updates to apps are delivered through the Windows Store and are continuing to engage with software developers ranging from entrepreneurs, designers, small and large businesses and students to create apps that help elevate the customer experience.

Demo at Windows 8 Apps Showcase

“Developing Windows 8 applications has been an exciting journey so far. From the creativity point of view, there is a lot to consider building a Live Tiles experience, the Modern UI, as well as making our apps support touch, mouse, keyboard and pen. However, I am most excited about the opportunity the Windows 8 platform represents – the Windows Store offers me an easy way to gain visibility, build a business, and create a user base. This isn’t just Microsoft’s version of the iPad, it is also the next version of Windows; so the market potential is huge,” said Pun Soong Teck, more popularly known as Tc Pun, who developed the MyTeksi app as well as the popular Malaysia Traffic app on Windows 8 and KL Traffic app Windows Phone.

“Since we established our presence in Malaysia 20 years ago, we are proud to have grown the local software economy to the level it is today. In fact, Microsoft Malaysia has the largest local partner ecosystem in the country with over 5,000 partners.  With Windows 8, we are thrilled that we are playing a major role in accelerating the development and production of made-in-Malaysia software,” added Dinesh. “A thriving local ICT economy with a vibrant community of home-grown software developers is another major component towards a technologically advanced, globally competitive, developed Malaysia by the year 2020.”