Microsoft has attained a landmark of 50,000 applications now available for download on the marketplace. As far as Microsoft is concerned it is really a remarkable achievement to have 50,000 apps ready for download on Windows Phone marketplace in 14 months.

It is admitted that Windows Phone 7 is far behind Apple and Android's stores, Apple having 500,000 and Android having 400,000 apps. At the same time to reach the mile stone of 50,000 apps, Google's OS took 18 months whereas Microsoft achieved the target in just 14 months. For Apple it took only one year to meet the 50K target.

Amidst some dour predictions about Windows Phone 7, the achievement of 50,000 apps seems to be good news for Microsoft. According to web site's figures despite the much advertised launch of Nokia's Lumia 800, the sales of Windows Phone 7 have not been a big success. As per the version of Mobile Please, Lumia 800 got only 0.2% of sales across its portal.

Analysts are not sure whether there is any real increase in the sales of Windows Phone 7 devices as some surveys indicate that European customers show a lack of interest in the Operating System. Exane BNP Paribas revealed that only 2% of the people are considering Lumia 800 when it comes to the purchase of smartphones.