Microsoft Band has a cross-platform problem. The SDK for the Microsoft Band released only a short while ago, so there's some solace to be obtained from that. However, after investigation it's clear that there's quite a bit more third party developer activity for Windows Phone than iOS and Android.

And, that presents a two-fold problem worth investigating.

First, Microsoft is intent to be shown as a friendly, cross-platform architect, delivering its apps across the major mobile platforms, iOS and Android. As shown in the table below, so far the Microsoft Band is not living up to the company's new strategy.

Secondly, could a disparity of third party apps and integration for the Microsoft Band actually show that Microsoft's fitness device is not as popular as the hype? The band is constantly reported to sell out everywhere, yet we don't really know the numbers yet. Rich uncovered recently that Microsoft only delivered 30,000 units to start. In the larger scope of things, that's a pretty small number. But, as we know from the original Surface RT debacle, Microsoft is still learning retail strategy and distribution. However, if there's more Microsoft Band developer activity for Windows Phone than the other platforms, you have to consider it’s a pretty small market. And, unless new apps pick up for iOS and Android, the market for the Microsoft Band would remain a Windows Phone-only device, capturing a very small piece of the fitness wearable industry.

Things should improve. It's really just early days. The band just became available in the UK and from what I've heard the SDK is lacking and should be improved soon with an updated release. In my opinion, the Microsoft Band is fantastic. I've been covering it quite a bit from many different angles.

Still, I think it's interesting to see what apps are actually available for the various, supported platforms. Below you'll find a cross-reference for available apps (with links) that we intend to keep updated as new apps are released. The list contains apps that work directly on the Microsoft Band, work through a smartphone/band partnership, and those that just integrate with Microsoft Health.

Health

App	Brief Description	Windows Phone	Windows	iOS	Android
Microsoft Health	Required, primary band app	X		X	X
iBand	Monitor exercise power expenditure	X
RiseUp	Exercise To-Do List	X
Drink O'Band	Water reminder	X
Heart Rate for Microsoft Band	Watch your heart rate in real-time on your phone				X
BandMT-Fever Watch	Detect the probability of certain medical conditions	X
Banditate	Mediation management	X
UV	Better UV detection	X
Tabata+	Custom exercise routines	X
Tabata Training Assistant	Uses haptic sensor to record Tabata routines	X
Get Steppin! For Band	Get alerts when you need to move more to reach steps goal	X
Band Heartbeat	Show graphical display of your heartbeat on your phone	X
Band TileMe Calories	Show calories in a Live Tile on your phone	X
Band Break	Lets you know when you've been idle too long	X
Breaking Band	Alert when you've been working to long	X
Band TileMe Skin Temperature	Live tile shows skin temperature	X
Skin Temp for Microsoft Band	Shows skin temperature on smartphone				X
Band TileMe Steps	Live Tile shows band's steps	X
Band Weight Monitor	Withings scale integration	X
Body health monitor	Skin temp and pluse rate	X
ThinkScopes Safe 4 Vampires	Check strenght of UV light	X
Enhanced Alarm for MS Band	Interval timers				X
Walk Reminder	Reminders to move!	X
StepBand	Notifications to get up and move around	X
RunKeeper	GPS tracking			X	X
Caledos Runner	Runkeeper integration	X
Catchme	Runkeeper/Strava integration	X
Trainr	Fitness workouts and challenges	X
Band Calorie Pace	Help achieve calorie burn goals	X
Speed-o-Meter	Uses GPS to measure speed for Driving, Cycling and Running	X
Strava	Run and Bike			X	X
One Tap Record for Strava	Strava Integration				X
Striver	Strava Integration	X
Cycle Tracks GPS	Strava Integration	X
Cyclers	Strava Integration	X
Baika	Strava Integration	X
Tracks for Strava	Strava Integration	X
Straza Mate	Strava Integration	X
Guava	Strava Integration	X
Cycle Log	Strava Integration	X
TrackStar Running	Strava Importer	X
Kliva	Strava Integration	X
Extrava	Strava Integration	X
CrewNerd	On-the-Water Exercises (ex. Rowing, kayaking)			X	X
MapMyRun	MapMyFitness integration (Run)	X		X	X
MapMyRide	MapMyFitness integration (Bike)	X		X	X
MapMyHike	MapMyFitness integration (Hiking)			X	X
MapMyWalk	MapMyFitness integration (Walking)			X	X
MapMyFitness	MapMyFitness integration (Workout)			X	X
MyFitnessPal	Track calories	X		X	X

Customization

App	Brief Description	Windows Phone	Windows	iOS	Android
Band Me Tiles	Customize the Me Tile	X
Band Buddy	Customize the tile theme, Me Tile, header text and secondary text			X
Band Pro	Design, create themes	X			X
Awesome Band Backgrounds	Search/replace backgrounds	X
Band Companion	Customize wallpaper, theme, take photos, display battery status	X
Pimp my Band	Customize wallpaper, theme, battery level tile	X			X
MS Band Personalizer	Set wallpaper image and theme colors				X
ReBand	Customize meTile			X
Me Tiles	Customize, share the ME tiles	X			X
Band Social	Create/share themes	X
Fanband	Sports, topic-based theme updates	X	X
GamerBand	Add Xbox Live Avatar and Gamertag Me Tile.	X
Live Lock & Band	Rich Band theme, wallpaper, and color customizer	X
Band To-Go	Cycle Band Me Tile images from photos and Bing	X

Utilities

App	Brief Description	Windows Phone	Windows	iOS	Android
Band Notes by tsjDEV	Send and store notes to band	X
Band Notes by Maksii	Send any message to your Microsoft Band	X
Smart Cart	See your shopping list on your wrist	X
Show My Band	Displays the sensor data	X
ThinkScopes Band Notes	Manage notes and resend to band	X
MS Band Sensor	View band sensor data				X
Buoy Band	NOAA buoy observation data sent to your Microsoft Band	X
Ring my Band	Different tones and alarms to push to your band				X
Send2Band	Send/save notes to band	X			X
iBand	Monitor exercise power expenditure	X
Anti Theft Band Alarm	Get a Band alert when someone picks up your phone	X
Backup My Band	Backup wallpaper and theme colours, and then restore them later.	X
Purge Band	Clean-up built in tiles	X
BandNote	Send text messages (notes) to your Band	X
Torch for Band	Turn band screen into flashlight	X
Enhanced Alarm for MS Band	Alarms for Interval timers				X
Recurring Microsoft Band Alarm	Set recurring alarms by shaking your hand				X
Find my Band	Band locator	X
Clear my Band	Clears all notifications	X
Band Notifier	Receive notifications from WhatsApp, Viber and Hangouts				X
Band Sensor Monitor	Expose, share more sensor info	X			X
Band Barcodes	Scan barcodes with your smartphone, store on your band	X
Band-Aid	Show battery percentage	X
Microsoft Band Barcode Maker	Place a tile with up to 8 barcodes on your Microsoft Band				X
UV	Better UV detection	X
Band Calendar MeTile	Show upcoming appointments on the MeTile	X
Band TileMe Distance	Show distance in a Live Tile on your phone	X
SunMoon Band	Sun and Moon data from US Naval Observatory	X
ThinkScopes Safe 4 Vampires	Check strength of UV light	X
Where's my Phone	Use band to find lost phone	X
Find my Phone +	Cortana and Band to locate lost phone	X
Band Translate	Translate using band and Cortana	X
Band Wallet	Scan and store barcodes	X	X
MS Band Light	Flashlight for band				X
Enhanced Alarm for MS Band	Interval timers				X
Note@Band	Send notes to band				X

Camera

App	Brief Description	Windows Phone	Windows	iOS	Android
Band Camera Control	Voice controlled (Cortana) photo taking	X
Band Camera	Use band like a remote shutter for your smarphone	X
Band Shutter	Take photos on your camera from your Microsoft Band				X
PhotoAlert Band & Phone	Uses Geolocation to notify a location you took pictures last	X
Shake Shot	Take photos by shaking your wrist	X

Fun

App	Brief Description	Windows Phone	Windows	iOS	Android
Inspire Band	Send inspiring quotes to your Microsoft Band	X
Bible Band	Send Bible verses to your Microsoft Band throughout the day	X
Audiobook Player	Get notifications from your audiobook	X
Smart Cart	See your shopping list on your wrist	X
Rubik's Band Timer	Timer for Rubik's cube solving	X
Music Band	Control smarphone music, choose albums, artists, library.	X
Ring my Band	Different tones and alarms to push to your band				X
Bounce for Band	Pong-type game	X
Jam Band	Play air guitar	X
Paddle for Band	Pong game for smartphone controlled by band	X
Sbux Band	Store and pay with up to 8 Starbucks cards	X
MS Band Media Controller	Media tile to control your phone's music player				X
MediaPlayer for Microsoft Band	Play, pause, skip, and go back on the currently playing song				X
GamerBand	Add Xbox Live Avatar and Gamertag Me Tile.	X
Band Tic-Tac-Toe	Play tic-tac-toe on your phone and band	X
Sound Band	Motion sound effects	X
Band Whoopie Cushion	Send fart noises to your smartphone	X