Today Microsoft revealed the policies governing the marketplace on its upcoming Windows Phone 7 series devices via a post on its Windows Team blog.
We’ve known for eight months that Windows Phone 7 would have its own dedicated market place and that devices would lack the ability to install non market applications à la Apple App Store, but until now we didn’t know the policies surrounding Microsoft’s challenger to the mobile device market space.
Among the latest revelations are:
- An annual registration fee of $99
- No limit to the number of paid apps submitted, five free apps per registration, $19.99 each after that.
- Free registration to DreamSpark students (same unlimited paid and five free apps applies).
- A new optional push notification service to help developers stay engaged with customers.
- A new optional Trial API – trials mean more customers try apps, and less likelihood that they return it. The length or type of trial is fully controlled by the developer.
- The ability to publish to all available Marketplace markets through a new “worldwide distribution” option, allowing developers to pay once and distribute broadly.
- Wider range of business models; free, paid, freemium and ad-funded.
- Equally important to many developers is what isn’t changing: a revenue share of 70/30
- Developers manage their business with Marketplace via the self service portal http://developer.windowsphone.com
- Payout takes place monthly for developers that have earned more than $200 worldwide.
- Developers can make ad funded applications.
- All applications go through a process of technical and content certification.
- Marketplace offers support for credit card commerce, and where available mobile operator billing.
- Microsoft continues its practice of publishing policies, guidelines, and submission process details to developers so they understand exactly how marketplace works.
Microsoft also added “we have listened to developers and responded to changing customer behavior to make Marketplace an even better experience for all. We’re adding many of the new features you’ve asked for. For those considering developing for Windows Phone for the first time, we hope you see a fresh opportunity to create truly unique and exciting apps and games.”
The content policies also reveal the Redmond based outfit will be towing the Cupertino line in terms of declaring “adult related content” as ‘explicit’ and therefore not allowed.
Microsoft has even defined this further as “content that a reasonable person would consider to be adult or borderline adult content (images, Text, or audio).”
This is bad news for those who want to officially and freely be able to install any app they wish.
Indeed, for porn lovers, there is really only one option left, which should make any new phone purchase pretty simple: Android it is!
