Windows Store is an upcoming digital distribution platform developed by Microsoft Corporation as part of Windows 8 for Metro style applications.^[1] The Windows Store will also allow developers to advertise their desktop applications. It will support both free and paid applications, with the paid applications ranging from $1.49 to $999.99. Developers will also be able to offer free trials. The Windows Store was made available concurrently with the release of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview which was released on February 29, 2012.^[2]

On September 13, 2011, day one of the BUILD developer conference, Microsoft's Windows President Steven Sinofsky announced the Windows Store application and its features and also demonstrated the store. Microsoft that day also released the Windows 8 Developer Preview that included the Windows Store application but does not function, displaying a "coming soon" message.^[3]

The Windows Store will be the only means of distributing Metro-style applications to users; the official reason is to allow Microsoft to scan apps for security flaws and malware.^[4] The Windows Store will take a 30% cut of application sales. Once an application reaches $25,000 USD in revenue, the cut drops to 20%. Third-party transactions are also allowed, of which Microsoft does not take a cut.^{[citation needed]} Individual developers will be able to register for $49 USD, and $99 USD for companies.^[5]

Support[link]

The developers from 38 countries can submit applications to Windows store. The application now can support any of 109 languages, as long as it supports one of 12 application certification languages. ^[6][7][8]

Guidelines[link]

Similar to the Windows Phone Marketplace, the Windows Store is regulated by Microsoft. Applications must be approved by Microsoft before becoming available on the store. Disallowed types of applications revealed by Microsoft (for Developer Preview) include ^[9]:

• Applications that contain adult content;
• Applications with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB Mature (or equivalents), or that contain content that would warrant such a rating;
• Applications that advocate discrimination, hatred, or violence based on membership in a particular racial, ethnic, national, linguistic, religious, or other social group, or based on a person’s gender, age, or sexual orientation;
• Applications that contain content or functionality that encourages, facilitates or glamorizes illegal activity;
• Applications that contain or display content that a reasonable person would consider to be obscene;
• Applications that are defamatory, libelous or slanderous, or threatening;
• Applications that encourage, facilitate or glamorise excessive or irresponsible use of alcohol or tobacco products, drugs or weapons;
• Applications that encourage, facilitate or glamorise extreme or gratuitous violence, human rights violations, or the creation or use of weapons against a person or animal in the real world;
• Applications that contain excessive or gratuitous profanity.

Controversies[link]

Customers must agree to allow Microsoft to remove existing applications & data on Windows 8 devices as stated in the Windows Store terms of use. ^[10]

Customers must agree that there is no obligation to return the data that is deleted by Microsoft.^[11]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Windows Store Dashboard