Why should only men have all the fun?

Microsoft allows women to have all the fun. The company is trying to challenge its rival Google's Android dominance in the smartphone segment, says it is time to write a “Code for Her” to give women exclusive applications on their mobile operating system Windows Phone 7. Microsoft has asked its staff how best the company could provide niche applications on marketplace, the online shop to get access to free and not-for-free applications.

It has launched an internal drive, called Garage, asking its staff to come out with unique ideas that could make “her life easier and simpler”. It made a good beginning, as the “Code for Her” team is churning out at least 4-5 app ideas. They include one to help women when they go on their favourite errand - shopping. Another application would be a guru for all her's yoga needs.

But what attracted the developing community was Immunization Tracker, guiding smart mothers to the right vaccine schedule. A three-member team showcased the app. In the beta-testing phase, they hope that the app would be ready just in time when marketplace is thrown open to Indian phone users.

The scope of Garage is much bigger. Teams, each comprising 2-3 employees, comes out with ideas that could be converted later into solutions - both standalone and those that could be intertwined into the enterprise applications.