Windows Phone Store
 Windows Phone Store on Windows Phone 8 |
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| Original author(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
| Initial release | October 21, 2010 |
| Development status | Active / 145,000 Apps [1] |
| Operating system | Windows Phone |
| Type | Digital distribution |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www.windowsphone.com/store |
Windows Phone Store (previously Windows Phone Marketplace) is a digital distribution platform developed by Microsoft for its Windows Phone platform that allows users to browse and download applications that have been developed by third-parties. Like much of the new Windows products, it also features "Metro UI"; the UI is presented in a panoramic view where the user can browse categories and titles, see featured items, and get details with ratings, reviews, screen shots, and pricing information.
The Windows Phone Store (replacing Windows Marketplace for Mobile) was launched along with Windows Phone 7 in October 2010 in some countries. It was reported on October 4, 2010 that the Windows Phone SDK was downloaded over half a million times.[2] At the end of February 2013, the Marketplace had more than 130,000 apps available.[3] With the rollout of Mango (Windows Phone 7.5) the online web Marketplace was unveiled by Microsoft; it offers various features like silent, over the air installation of apps to the user's device.
In August 2012, Microsoft officially rebranded the "Windows Phone Marketplace" to "Windows Phone Store". The change was seen on Windows Phone devices and on the Windows Phone website, the Marketplace section was changed to "Apps+Games".
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Pricing and features [edit]
Windows Phone Store has support for credit card purchases, operator billing, and ad-supported content. The Store also features a "try-before-you-buy" option, where the user has an option to download a trial or demo for a commercial app.[4] Other features are said to be similar to Windows Phone Store's predecessor, Windows Marketplace for Mobile. The Windows Phone Store will have 61 categories split up in to 16 main categories and 25 sub-categories. Apps can only be placed in one category. Windows Phone Store will also feature downloads for 3D games that will have integrated Xbox Live connectivity and features.
The ability to download an XAP file to a computer is also present, allowing a user to install an app from their SD card if no internet access is available.
Developers [edit]
Developers must pay an annual subscription fee of $99 to become an App Hub member and submit apps to the Windows Phone Store. There's no limit on the number of free submissions for paid apps. There's a limit of 100 free submissions for free apps; thereafter, there's a fee of $19.99 per submission for free apps.[5]
Games and apps [edit]
A user can download games and apps from the Windows Phone Store; if an Xbox live account is enabled, the store can be accessed remotely from the phone itself. Microsoft has lined up a wide range of popular games to be available from the launch of Windows Phone 7.[6] Also at Gamescom, Microsoft unveiled more than 50 premium Windows Phone 7 games and apps [7] that will make use of the Xbox Live mobile connection.
The Windows Phone Store has grown swiftly since its launch and by February 2012, it had outgrown Blackberry App World with 70,000 apps available (a milestone that Blackberry App World passed in March 2012). In June 2012, after 20 months, Windows Phone Marketplace has reached 100,000 apps. The growth to achieve 100,000 apps is faster than Android with 24 months, but slower than iOS with 16 months.[8]
Content restrictions [edit]
Apps in the Windows Phone Store are subjected to a content policy, that exists to guide app developers, and to facilitate a restriction or banning of certain content.[9]
Examples of restricted or banned content include pornography, promotion of violence, discrimination, hate, or the usage of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Suggestions or depictions of prostitution, sexual fetishes, or generally anything that "a reasonable person would consider to be adult or borderline adult content" will be forbidden from the marketplace.[9][10]
Windows Phone 7 SDK [edit]
Windows Phone 7 application development is based upon Silverlight, XNA, and the .NET Compact Framework.[11][12] The primary tools used for development are Microsoft's Visual Studio 2010 and Expression Blend.[12] Excluding unlocked developer devices, Windows Phone 7 only runs applications that have first been approved by Microsoft and are only available via the Windows Phone Marketplace.[13]
Developers will be able to earn 70% of revenue made by their apps or developers and can include an advertising model built into their apps. Students can submit applications for free through Microsoft's DreamSpark program.[14]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2013/02/25/windows-phone-developer-updates-amp-offers-from-mobile-world-congress.aspx
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2013/02/25/windows-phone-developer-updates-amp-offers-from-mobile-world-congress.aspx
- ^ Engadget.com
- ^ "App Hub - Windows Phone and Xbox 360". Microsoft. Retrieved March 2012.
- ^ "10 Best Windows Phone 7 Games We Can't Wait To Play".
- ^ "Xbox Live Games For Windows Phone 7".
- ^ "Windows Phone Reaches The 100,000 Application Milestone". June 5, 2012.
- ^ a b "Windows Phone Marketplace - Content policies". Microsoft. March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 2012.
- ^ "Microsoft rejects porn, iPad protesters fake it". The Register. 11 June 2010.
- ^ "Microsoft's new pitch: 'Every .Net developer just became a Windows Phone developer'". ZDNet. 2010-02-18. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ^ a b "Windows Phone 7 Series has everything to succeed". MobileTechWorld. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "Windows Phone 7 Apps Must Be Microsoft Approved". InformationWeek. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- ^ Windowsteamblog.com
External links [edit]
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