@joebelfiore explains Microsoft thinking behind putting Xbox games on iOS and Android #wp7

There’s been growing concern among some in the Windows Phone 7 community over the appearance of some previously exclusive Windows Phone 7 apps on iPhone, such as the Halo Waypoint ATLAS, Kinectimals and a Skydrive app that allows greater integration which makes the baked in version on WP7 feel slightly less exclusive.

Fuel to the fire was added with a job advertisement that asked for people to help grow Xbox games on the iOS and Android platforms, leading some of the more passionate members of the community to question whether Microsoft had lost faith altogether in the Windows Phone platform and were beginning the process of abandoning it, or at least removing the exclusives and pushing it long-term.

Personally I feel that Microsoft have a longer term vision for Windows Phone and won’t abandon it when they are only months into their relationship with Nokia, who have jointly committed $200 million for advertising in the US.

Nonetheless, as relaxed as I am I do enjoy having various things on my phone as exclusives and the one I always have over friends is Xbox Live and the ability to play games and pick up achievements, but I do understand the need for Microsoft to expand it’s brand into other markets.

Anyway, I tweeted Joe Belfiore, who leads the design team for WP7 and asked him to elaborate Microsoft’s thinking on putting their brand onto iOS and Android and he has kindly replied.

It was a direct tweet but seeing as I asked him to explain to set people’s minds at rest I don’t think he’ll mind me putting it here:

Xbox team is balancing growing their business/increasing Xbox popularity with helping WP7 be successful. I predict some of both, always.

So there you have it. Microsoft clearly feel the need to balance growing their Xbox brand and popularity with helping Windows Phone grow. If anything I’d say it suggests that they’re not expecting Windows Phone to grow fast enough to also allow it to cross-promote Xbox, but at least it’s not the case that Microsoft are growing cold on Windows Phone.

That said, I’d still like to see some exclusives remain on WP7. But even if apps were released that had features available on my Windows Phone, it won’t be baked in like it is on mine, which makes it much easier, more intuitive and more enjoyable to use.

The growing nerves among the WP7 does suggest that perhaps some people in the WP7 team could give their thoughts of the overall strategy they have for WP7 over the coming year – what are their expectations, what exclusives will it have and how are they going to keep up with the development cycle of iOS, which seems to be a good way ahead at the moment. Basically a bit more information might set minds at rest.

What people want most of all is to know the phones they’ve invested so much in are still seen to have a big future by Microsoft and the Windows Phone team.

NB Big thanks to Joe for messaging me, it’s much appreciated.