20 Windows Phone apps for business (gallery)

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Microsoft recently announced its Windows Phone Marketplace app store had passed the 50,000 apps mark. It's still a way behind Apple's 500,000+ iOS apps but WinPho apps are no longer rarer than hen's teeth.

Natasha Lomas of Silicon.com has taken a look at Marketplace's wares and rounded up 20 business-friendly apps from Microsoft's Windows Phone smartphone platform.

App: WP Shortcut Tiles:

Here's an app that does what it says on the package - it allows users to place handy shortcuts to their homescreen for easy access, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Another app focused on pushing info to your Windows Phone's homescreen is the Live Calendar app. This lets users create monthly or weekly calendar Live Tiles. The tiles then automatically update, based on the background task in the calendar.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Users of Microsoft's Lync Server or Office 365/Lync Online account can use this app to tap into Lync 2010 features on their Windows Phone handset - including IM, presence and audio conferencing.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
All Windows Phone handsets have built-in access to Microsoft's cloud storage service, SkyDrive, but the SkyDrive app is designed to make it easier to manage and share files - with options to browse all files, view recently used documents, upload photos and more.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Tasks is a fully feature to-do list app which includes Exchange and Office 365 syncing. Tasks/projects can include notifications/reminders and priority/recurrence parameters. Photos and voice memos can be attached to tasks which can also be emailed to contacts.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
This voice memo app saves recordings by sending them to your email inbox. Pin a Live Tile to the start screen and the app supports one-click recording, and one more click to save.

Price: £1.49 (free trial)

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
View PDFs using Adobe's Reader app - which supports multi-touch gestures such as pinch to zoom and double tap. Landscape orientation viewing is also supported.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
View PDFs using Adobe's Reader app - which supports multi-touch gestures such as pinch to zoom and double tap. Landscape orientation viewing is also supported.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
This free document scanner app lets you align and crop scanned documents, and upload them to cloud storage services such as Microsoft's SkyDrive. But you'll need the paid version of the app if you want PDF conversion and emailing options.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Tweet, send DMs and keep an eye on Twitter trends - all from your Windows Phone handset. The Twitter app also supports photo uploading directly within the app.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
This app integrates with your LinkedIn networking account to offer various features including messaging, contacts viewing, updates, groups, job info, search and more.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Save creating your own QR code business cards with this app.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
If you have all your best ideas when out and about, then the Concept Mapper Lite app could be just the ticket. The app lets users build basic mindmaps and then save them on the device or to the cloud, or share them via email or by uploading to SharePoint or elsewhere.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Evernote made a name for itself on other mobile platforms such as iOS and Android but the note-taking and memory-aid app is also on Microsoft's platform. Photos, text notes and audio recordings can be created in the app by using a series of templates - and your data is then stored in the cloud and synced across all your devices.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Another handy app for business travelers or anyone working for a global company is the World Clock app - keeping you punctual in whatever time zone you're working in.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Need a flight fast? This app searches more than 1,000 airlines for the best and cheapest flights available. You can track flights and wait to get the best deal or arrange for the Skyscanner app to email details to you so you can examine the results later.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
This app that lets you calculate cab fares around the world - and helps you work out how much local currency to take on your next business trip.

There are many similar apps that are geared for individual citiesl

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
You can pick one of several apps track what time your flight or maybe a colleague or customer's flight will be arriving.

Price: Free

Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
This personal finance app lets you keep track of your expenses, organize your personal income, and plan your budget. It lets you build charts and graphs, warn you of upcoming bills, and track your credit card usage.

Price: $3.99 but there is a free stripped down version.

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
This app is one of many public transportation apps that are geared to the specific city that you are visiting. It works offline and tracks the Chicago Transit Authority and bus schedules including as the app calls them, the night owls.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com
Perhaps the most important app on this list will help manage your coffee breaks. It remembers the preferences of your co-workers and keeps track of who's turn it is to pick it up.

Price: Free

Image: Marketplace

Published: February 1, 2012 -- 09:15 GMT (01:15 PST)
Caption by: Silicon.com