Information Security & US & Life & Love & Fashion & Hacking & Passion

Microsoft Corp. plans a central market to sell programs for cell phones running the Windows Mobile system. It hews closely to the setup of Apple Inc.'s App Store for iPhones, with one notable exception - Microsoft promises to communicate more openly with outside software developers.

Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) started what has become an "app store" arms race a year ago, giving software programmers a single place to market applications to enthusiastic iPhone owners. The overnight success of the model - Apple claimed 10 million downloads in a weekend - was followed by Google Inc. (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people )'s similar one-stop shop for its Android phone system.

Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ), Nokia Corp. (nyse: NOK - news - people ) and Research in Motion Ltd. (nasdaq: RIMM - news - people ) have announced similar intentions recently.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft was set to reveal more details of its own effort Wednesday. Like Apple in its App Store, Microsoft plans to take 30 percent of sales from the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Software programmers who want to sell applications through the Microsoft store must pay $99 a year for the privilege, the same fee Apple charges. Programmers can set their own prices, starting at 99 cents, or give their programs away, as long as they pass Microsoft's muster.

Apple's App Store gave programmers a way to profit from the iPhone's mounting buzz. It also drew criticism from some who said the company is too secretive about the process. Developers have complained that it takes weeks or more for Apple to approve or reject their submissions and that reasons for rejections are murky or inconsistent.

Apple declined to comment.

Microsoft vows it will be more forthright and responsive than Apple has been.

Fitch Ratings said Thursday it has placed Charter Communications Inc.'s "CCC" issuer default rating on negative rating watch, after the cable operator said it will begin discussions with its bondholders about financial options to improve its balance sheet.

Fitch said the rating watch reflects its concern that the start of those discussions increases the likelihood that the company will engage in a broad-based distressed debt exchange or file for bankruptcy.

About $21.1 billion of the company's outstanding debt as of Sept. 30 is affected.

A "CCC" rating is non-investment grade, also known as "junk."

Charter, a St. Louis-based cable TV operator controlled by Microsoft Corp. (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) co-founder Paul Allen, reported interest costs of $478 million for the third quarter compared with operating income of $208 million. Allen no longer works for Microsoft.

Charter's shares were trading at 13 cents apiece Thursday afternoon.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Charter Communications Inc. said Friday that it is beginning discussions with its bondholders about financial options to improve the cable operator's balance sheet.

"We believe engaging in discussions with our bondholders, aimed at improving our capital structure and enhancing our financial flexibility, is in the company's and our customers' best interests," said President and Chief Executive Neil Smit in a statement.

Last month, Charter reported it narrowed its third-quarter loss as customer sign-ups for new lines of service surged 50 percent.

But the St. Louis-based company, which is controlled by Microsoft Corp. (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) co-founder Paul Allen, has continued to struggle with its debt burden. It reported interest expenses of $478 million in the third quarter, eclipsing its $208 million in operating income.

As of Wednesday, Charter said it had more than $900 million of cash on hand and cash equivalents available to pay operating costs and expenses.

Charter is the nation's fourth largest cable TV operator behind Comcast Corp. (nasdaq: CMCSA - news - people ), Time Warner Cable (nyse: TWC - news - people ) Inc. and Cox Communications.

Charter's financial adviser is Lazard LLC. Charter's shares were roughly unchanged at 16 cents in morning trading.