Previously, the $99 that Windows Phone devs paid annually to get access to the Marketplace covered up to five app submissions -- but Microsoft looks like it's willing to play ball in an effort to drum up more interest in third-party development ahead of
Windows Phone 7's release by chucking the five-app cap. Well, sort of -- paid apps will have unlimited submissions, but free apps will still be limited to five per yearly cycle, with additional submissions running $19.99 each. Additionally, Microsoft is taking the wraps off its Trial API for helping developers enforce trial functionality prior to purchase, details on its push notification service, and a new option that lets publishes push their apps globally -- to every localized store in the Marketplace's reach -- in one fell swoop. The company says that it has "listened to developers and responded to changing customer behavior to make Marketplace an even better experience for all," and it certainly seems like a step in the right direction -- but we'll admit, we'd still love to see free app submissions go unlimited (what can we say, we've got a soft spot for freebies).
posted June 7th 2010 7:26PM
Developers, developers, developers!
Really though, by now, whatever Windows Phone 7 coming out later this year have to be better than the iPhone 4, Evo 4G, or Nexus One. Those are the benchmark.
@pika2000 Dell Lightning looks nice. Front Facing Cam, Pentaband 3G support, 3G/Future LTE 4G support, 4.1 inch screen, slide-out keyboard, (AM)OLED. 1GB of ROM, 512MB RAM.
@Fragmented The Nexus One was one of the first Snapdragon phones. It is also a benchmark on how a "super phone" spec should look like, and how the pricing should be.
@pika2000
I hope Windows marketplace on WP7 is better than the one currently available on the HD2.
@pika2000 I think they will be especially as HTC will be making some models. The marketplace try before you buy is a big selling point for me too hopefully a lot of apps will use this for limited trial periods and similar. I hate paying for stuff on the app store with good reviews (sometimes fake) and it turning out to be crap with no refund.
@pika2000 most importantly it should have an amazing aesthetic which absolutely destroys anythong else available and it has that in SPADES, here is a comparison of an app on the iphone and WinPho7 platforms... its clear that design is a more integral part in WinPho7. time and time again we see phones with better specs fail to unseat the iphone because its about the "experience" well that experience is about to be donkey punched by Microsoft...
http://iphone.mobilitydigest.com/the-day-the-earth-stood-still/
I think this is for the best actually; 5 app cap on free apps and charging but not blocking any more will eliminate a lot of crapware. Not a bad idea I think. Microsoft are looking at what's going on with other platforms and learning I reckon, best example being avoiding android fragmentation by blocking skins. I think there's great potential for WP7.
@safe travels
You may be on to something.
@safe travels That is true.
@safe travels
it's just a shame that one thing they haven't learnt from is apple's copy & paste fiasco. they've said they 'just didn't have the resources' but excuses like that won't cut it when you're one of the giants of the tech industry.
@safe travels: Something tells me they just have not figured out another way of doing copy and paste. The iPhones implementation for a phone is one of the best out there. They can't just take the exact same implementation and go with it. They have to do something different.
I like that they are creating hot links throughout the OS, but tried and true copy-paste is still a necessity. Unfortunately, the two finger select is probably the only way to do it, and Apple already has that implemented.
@safe travels: And to respond to your original statement, the App Store is littered with tens of thousands of absolutely garbage $0.99 apps. This doesn't help the situation at all. All it does is prevent you from downloading trash apps, which are usually just a short long hold away from disappearing anyways. Its the apps that sucker you in for $0.99 or around that price that are the real problem.
But MS does have a solution by offering refunds. Thank god for that. That should keep the crap at bay.
@Fragmented
iPhone 3GS killer
This still makes Android look a lot more sexy.
I'm excited as hell with WP7. Seeing what Apple's gonna have for the fall, and what Android will likely do through christmas, I'm pretty stoked to say WP7 will be my OS of choice by years end. This of course is assuming MS doesn't cripple the hell out of the potential this thing has.
@Calijoefornia Couldn't Agree More! I'm hoping for some really nice looking devices
my contract expires in august.
wenz the winmo7 coming to the market?
am thinking android .. evo or shadow (if it comes out) for now if winmo7 doesnt hit the market by then.
@coolkams03 November, if I remember right.
@coolkams03
around September, I think.
@n8equalsd
well am an international currently staying in US.
not totally aware of the contract rules here.
wanted to know if there is an option to retain the number for 2 more months and then shift to winmo7? or may be i can take the prepaid for temporary 2 months use?
@coolkams03 I'm not totally sure I understand what your saying, but if I hear you right, you want to get a Windows Phone 7 device when they come out later but you don't want to sign a 2 year contract on a phone UNTIL you get the WP7 phone right? If that's the case, then you're better off waiting for it and getting a prepaid phone with no contract now. Unfortunately that's the most efficient way to get a WP7 device later, while still having something to use now.
@Calijoefornia
yes yes. my att contract wil be done this august. was thinking abt getting evo and jumping to sprint later. but i would prefer waiting for the winmo7 to come out b4 i jump to evo. so i guess prepaid is the way to go. hope i will be able to retain the number.
anyways thank you for the information.
@coolkams03
Just because your contract ends in August doesn't mean you need to sign another. Just stick with your current plan which will go month to month without a commitment.
@David V
does that mean i can still use my connection and phone without signing (or renewing) another contract in august with att? and shift to whatever carrier/phone later after two months without paying anything anything extra for the cancellation?
@Fragmented
Nothing will kill iPhone sales. Nothing, no matter what. Get over it.
Having said that, there's plenty of potential here, can't wait to see some full on Xbox games integrated and to finally get some hardware out there to purchase and play with!
MS- we really need a nice phone to be in user hands fast. Wake up!
@Duke haha,that depends on hardware manufacturers
@Duke i think the only apple killer would be microsoft+nokia partnership on this.if they want to fight the one that fight them both they should become a winpho7 partner,just used my brother's 3 years old n73 and found out phone is really nokia
@Duke
It's not like they are slipping with the deadlines; they are sticking to plan.
Just bevause there are many devices fighting about the crown they cant cut the plan halfway and throw out a half-done device. I say do it right this time.
@Fragmented
iPhone 4 killer.
hahaha
So will the iPhone 4 be available in Futureshop in Canada?
Im getting one, I just cant frikkin wait..
AHHHHHHHHHHH IM SO OBSESSED WITH THE HOLY AWESOMENESS OF THE NEW IPHONE!!!
OHMYFRIKKINGOD ITS SOFRIKKIN COOL!!
AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
A4 CHIP AND AN EVEN BETTER BATTERY ALL PACKED INTO PERFECTLY STRONG GLASS AND A THINNER IPHONE!!!
AHHHHHHHHHH
It shouldn't be five app submissions, it should be five app slots. If you've got an app that's not doing well, it shouldn't effectively cost you $20 to replace it with a better app.
@nak if you failed to make a good app, why should microsoft be responsible for that?
@nak
Agreed. When you update and applications does that count as a submission? I assume they'd want to test it so you don't add a feature that they would reject your app for the first time around.
@Dking7 The app could be great, just no one wants it. Why should Microsoft penalize me for realizing my errors and attempting to fix them?
@Dking7
It's not about them being responsible, it's about them working with that developer so they will continue to make viable apps for your platform.
@nak The truth is M$ is already scaring away Devs who might have jumped ship from Android. M$ is acting like they have a phone monopoly before the device is even available. These rules may will appropriate if/when WP7 has significant marketshare.
@loismustdie
'M$'? Really? What is this 1990? It says in the article that it's unlimited if you're charging and $100 to be a developer. Why is this a bad thing? They seem to be intentially creating a slight barrier to entry so that people will only create an app and put it on the marketplace if they are serious about it which should increase the average quality of apps in their marketplace. The amount is insignificant for a company or an individual who's looking to make quality apps for money but just enough to prevent someone just messing around in the dev kit to release an app.
This is the phone i'm waiting for :) I'll take a pass on the iPhone fanatacism thanks. Windows Phone 7 for the win :)
@higherdestiny yeah,win generation!
@higherdestiny you can finally give your Zune away (if someone will take it)?
are all platforms requiring you to pay something to be able to submit apps?
@mikmik111, yes, app review is a costly process.
MS on the other hand does not charge to get the tools (neither does Android or webOS). So in that regard developers can have fun and mess around until they are sure they need to pay the 100 dollar fee.
@mikmik111 yes, even the Android market place charges you $25 to get started. It costs money to make money.
@Technologeee why would you say this to a non iPhone post? It's like screaming "I love twilight!" to a harry potter movie premiere.
@Technologeee ........?
I'm fine with limiting "Free" apps to five a year ... because that might limit some of the crappy free apps too.
Less stuff to wade through to find the good stuff.
Just have more apps than what Zune Marketplace has now.
Then I'll be happy.
You guys all need to chill. The iPhone 4 looks amazing, yes. But, none of us have yet to play with it, there are no real reviews of it out, and therefore just like we cannot pass judgment on WP7 as a win or fail yet, we cannot pass judgment on iPhone4 as a win either. But since it IS an Apple product it will have its fare share of over-hyped sales. Just hope WP7 can actually get the same amount of sales without the over-hyped marketing Apple needs.
....time will tell..
Looking forward to the Dell WP7 offering, forgot whats the name of it...
Lightning
IPhone 4/4G/4GS killer.