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Windows Mobile App Store will be pricey - for developers
A few weeks ago Microsoft unveiled the pricing details for the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, also known as Microsoft's answer to the iPhone App Store. Developers will have to pay $99 per item listed in the store, and Microsoft will take a 30% cut of any sales revenue. That all sounds reasonable enough, but blogger Long Zheng has discovered two interesting facts:
- Developers who submit applications that are available for free download are not exempt from the $99 fee.
- Application updates are counted as new submissions.
Comments
16
Subscribe to commentsKeegdnaBMar 24th 2009 5:09PM
At least they'll still always have the option of offering their apps outside the official software channel....unlike some other phones
iGateMar 24th 2009 5:44PM
gee, what a rip off!
i see no incentive there to develop an app for M$ except perhaps market share, but even that too is shrinking.
Mike CermMar 24th 2009 7:13PM
A rip off? If you charge $5 for your software, and you sell 100,000 copies, is a $100 really that big of a deal?
I think this is a smart move by Microsoft. It's enough of a speed-bump to keep the crap out, meanwhile anyone who's remotely serious about developing a useful application will not flinch at the $100 fee, and will be able to do fine with 5 free submissions per year.
Also, since Microsoft isn't going to lock 3rd parties out from making and selling apps outside of the ecosystem, there will still be a free market for apps that aren't commercially viable.
BrianMMar 24th 2009 5:49PM
Build an updater into your application and you do not have to worry about repayng every time you have an update. If they make this too cheap then every stupid application will be up there in hours,
burnblueMar 24th 2009 6:29PM
5 per year. That $99 is for 5 apps. That means it's better for you if you're submitting more than just one. If you have 6 or more apps in there, I'm going to assume you're a good-sized company that can afford $99 for an app. I'd rather not see the app store overwhelmed by crappy apps.. this fee makes sure that only serious entries get in there
ChristianMar 24th 2009 7:13PM
I see this as Microsoft's way of making developers really make good quality softwares before it comes out rather than updating every week... It might be hypocritical since they failed a little on Vista...
If not, I'm sure there's still ways to get applications outside of Marketplace since it's a WinMo device.
DeadpanMar 24th 2009 7:52PM
Wow. Microsoft once again manages to out-douche Apple.
A per-app submission fee is necessary, but for updates? Well, I suppose you can install updates from another site, right?
Dan WesnorMar 24th 2009 8:44PM
I remember when Microsoft had low barriers to entry for developers and Apple made it nearly impossible. My, how the world has changed.
SeomanMar 25th 2009 8:15AM
Not really. Microsoft has never distributed 3rd party apps for any of its platforms before, IIRC. And you can still make your free/low cost app and distribute it yourself; no such luck with Apple, which is why they have to let a lot of crap on the AppStore.
wrabbitMar 24th 2009 9:37PM
@Deadpan: That was my first thought as well, but others make a good point. The seemingly "steep" price isn't actually that much for a serious developer who actually wants to make a useful app that makes them money. It encourages better quality, since devs will be interested in minimizing updates, and it discourages silly and/or useless apps that would have to be provided for free or won't make money.
QuikboyMar 24th 2009 11:49PM
It does seem harsh, doesn't it? But like others have pointed out, maybe it will encourage developers to build quality applications from the start, rather than providing a lot of updates as it progresses (though MS follows that latter route too...). Unfortunately, most people will view the news with bitterness because developers that really care about their apps are often used to pushing updates.
Considering you don't have to use WMfM, you could upload a beta version of your application on a website, allow users to use for a certain period to provide feedback, and then sell it on WMfM after you apply the fixes.
awindMar 25th 2009 8:15AM
My a$$ already hurts for how much I paid for their IDE. What are they thinking? I have to pay them to develop for them. So they can make more money on the OS. I dont love apple either but I am tired of throwing money at MS.
RidgecityMar 25th 2009 8:15AM
Wow, this is a dead-on-arrival deal here. First you gotta have a big enough installed base to keep the crap out while. Of course this is nothing for big companies, but what if the big companies don't give a rat's ass about developing for your system? most companies weren't interested in the iphone until it was amazingly popular, and tons of the best apps are done by regular people, not giant corps, specially games and nifty gadgets.
Let's remember, this is Microsoft, they can easily change their policy in 24 hours.
RidgecityMar 25th 2009 8:15AM
not to mention charging $99 even for free applications and another $99 for updates is a pretty bad idea. Not even Apple made something like this.
hazardMar 25th 2009 8:15AM
Is that a picture of the mysterious Zune phone? Mmmm .. tasty
I'm not overly impressed with this initial spec of the MS App store. Maybe they should have a tiered marketplace where one store is a free-for-all and another is commercial like this ?
NorwinMar 25th 2009 12:43PM
The beauty of free enterprize, someone else lays down the ground work and then a bigger company finds a way to profit from it. Apples' success showed everyone how to do it properly so you know there is a ton of money to be made by both parties.
Face it, make a great app and pay for the marketing. I think the marketshare for WinMo is way bigger so quit yer yapping and make some money. If you don't like it, go back to DIY and see how that goes.
Ofcourse, all this depends on M$ ability to produce a better app than iTunes. Apple nailed it on that one and no other has even come close.