The importance of access to applications can't be understated in today's smartphone market. Every major platform has its own smartphone app store. The Marketplace for Mobile is the app store for Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 platform. It already has more than 1,000 apps in it.

WP7 devices have been available in markets around the world for about two weeks now. Five WP7 handsets are launching in the U.S. starting November 8, including the Dell Venue Pro and HTC HD7 for T-Mobile, and the HTC Surround, Samsung Focus, and LG Quantum for AT&T.

Consumers who choose the LG Quantum over its competitors will have access to free applications from LG and Microsoft. LG is giving away ten app with a market value of $30. LG says the applications will span gaming, utilities, social networking and more. LG will change up the selection of free apps every 60 days.

"We built the new Windows Phone Marketplace to create new business opportunities for developers and partners alike," said Brandon Watson, director for Windows Phone at Microsoft. "This collaboration with LG creates a win-win situation for consumers and developers and will further showcase the variety of quality games and applications available on Windows Phone 7."

LG will also host its own app store for WP7 handsets, where more LG-developed applications will be available.

Of course, the Marketplace for Mobile already offers hundreds of applications for free to WP7 users, and that number is only going to grow.

Is the LG Quantum worth choosing over the other WP7 handsets? That's a tough call. It is the only WP7 handset being offered by AT&T to include a physical QWERTY keyboard, but it has a smaller screen and is chubbier than its rivals. The Samsung Focus is thin and has a larger, fantastic display. The HTC Surround offers trick slide-out stereo speakers. Each offers something slightly different.