Microsoft announces plans for the Windows Store

Windows 8 Tiles

Microsoft has announced its plans for the Windows Store that will host all the apps Windows 8 PCs, tablets and laptops. This announcement was however meant to appeal to all the developers to create and host apps in the Windows Store. In the bargain, Microsoft is offering a better-than-industry revenue sharing model. Right now all the apps are on the Windows Phone Marketplace and can be accessed only by the phone. With the Windows Store thrown open to the general developer community the reach of the apps is much wider since all of Windows 8 users will tap into the Windows Store and one has to remember that Windows owns more than 90% of the PC market. That in itself should be a huge motivation for the developers to start creating apps. To further that prospect, Microsoft has announced that the Windows Store will be globally available, enabling developers to sell their apps in 231 markets and in over than 100 languages.

However the deal clincher is going to be the better share of app revenue that Microsoft is offering over rival revenue models from Apple and Android. Using Windows Store app developers can sell their product starting from $1.49, this $.50 more than the minimum price of most other stores. Though it is a slight increase for the consumer, for the developer it will result in a significant income if there are several downloads. That’s not the only place where the developers stand to gain. Microsoft has announced that for any app that exceeds $25,000 in revenue the company will offer the developer 80% of the revenue received from app sales and in-app purchases. This is definitely better than the 70% which the competition is offering.

This announcement is definitely bound to bring in cheer within the developer community and Microsoft is hoping that it can tap into some of that excitement and turn it into revenue.