The PC community is moderately excited about the Windows 8 app store. Although an app store does exist in the Windows 8 release preview, it’s not stocked with very many apps. Microsoft has insisted that apps will be its focus as it moves forward, and has even started paying developers to build apps based on Windows 8.
Now that we have an official release date for Windows 8 (October 26, 2012), Microsoft is ready to reveal more details about its app store. A recent Microsoft blog post described what users can expect when buying an app from the app store. The post goes through the entire app-purchasing process, which all looks fairly straightforward. However, since the post is geared towards app developers, it focuses more on the process of uploading an app to the app store as opposed to purchasing one for yourself.
One of the interesting points raised in the blog post is pricing. Specifically, developers can price their app anywhere between $1.49 and $999.99.The biggest surprise about that announcement is that there is no $0.99 price. Since apps priced at $0.99 are often the most popular on Androids and iPhones, Microsoft’s pricing decision could alienate a huge portion of the market.
Of more interest to the developers will be the commission Microsoft takes from every app store purchase. Microsoft will take 30% on app sales up to $25,000 (which is standard for Android-based devices and for Apple). However, they’ll only take 20% on sales above that amount. This decision is no doubt designed to lure big-name app makers into the Windows 8 marketplace.
It’s good that Microsoft is putting an emphasis on filling up its app store. Apps are what make or break mobile devices, and a single app (like Angry Birds) can have a huge impact on sales.
Could you see yourself dropping $1000 on a Windows 8 app? I’m sure a few developers will price their apps at that point just to see if someone will bite.
Best Buy wants to copy the Apple store?