In a move to compete with the Apple app store and other services, Microsoft continues preparation of its own app store, telling developers they don't have to worry about pricing.
In the popular Apple store, the most popular programs are free apps, with $0.99 apps serving as the most popular paid programs offered. Some developers are having a difficult time working with the low price point, as the time devoted to develop many apps simply isn't recouped by offering a 99-cent app.
The Windows Marketplace, designed for Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5 and eventually Windows Mobile 7, was opened up to developers late last month. Windows Mobile 6.5 will launch in Oct., and has been designed to allow Microsoft to better compete with Google, Apple, Research In Motion, and Palm.
During a Microsoft event aimed at developers, company officials said it's up to developers to choose the price point they want to aim for.
"It's up to you to play your pricing, but we would definitely want to promote that you make more money selling applications than selling your application in a dollar store," Microsoft's Loke Uei said. "Your app can be worth $5.00 or $9.99, whatever the amount is, and you should be able to make more money with it. In that way, we also promote higher-quality applications for a higher price -- a good price."
I know several developers who currently have apps available in the Apple app store -- which has sold more than 1.5 billion downloads -- and understand they need to make money, but they realize that a price point too high will turn away many possible clients.
It's an interesting move Microsoft hopes will pay off in the future, as it would greatly help convince developers to come back to keep developing apps for the Windows Marketplace.
