Phait
03-25-2009, 02:23 AM
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/03/24/windows-mobile-app-store-will-be-pricey-for-developers/
Apple did it right, isn't it free when approved and they get a cut?
A few weeks ago Microsoft unveiled the pricing details for the Windows Marketplace for Mobile (http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/03/11/microsoft-unveils-windows-mobile-app-store-details/), 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 (http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090324/windows-marketplace-for-mobile-to-charge-developers-for-application-updates/):
Developers who submit applications that are available for free download are not exempt from the $99 fee.
Application updates are counted as new submissions.
In other words, every time you submit an update to your application, you have to pay an extra $99. Even if it's a minor tweak or bug or security fix. Microsoft does offer developers a chance to upload up to 5 free submissions per year. So if you only have one app that you don't plan to update very often you might be OK. But if you've got a whole suite of applications that you're constantly updating, you'll have to pay up.
Apple did it right, isn't it free when approved and they get a cut?
A few weeks ago Microsoft unveiled the pricing details for the Windows Marketplace for Mobile (http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/03/11/microsoft-unveils-windows-mobile-app-store-details/), 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 (http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090324/windows-marketplace-for-mobile-to-charge-developers-for-application-updates/):
Developers who submit applications that are available for free download are not exempt from the $99 fee.
Application updates are counted as new submissions.
In other words, every time you submit an update to your application, you have to pay an extra $99. Even if it's a minor tweak or bug or security fix. Microsoft does offer developers a chance to upload up to 5 free submissions per year. So if you only have one app that you don't plan to update very often you might be OK. But if you've got a whole suite of applications that you're constantly updating, you'll have to pay up.