I think a lot of people have overlooked the fact that it cost $99/year to publis software to the Apple App store. For the multitude of flashlight applications and applications generating sounds of flatus some one had to pay the $99 registration fee to make them available online. Until you register more than 5 applications within a 12 month period it cost the exact same amount to publish in either app store.

I actually like the $99 idea to a point if it is enforced right and if the store creates x times the volume we have seen on other stores.

It will keep me from submitting some of my older 'end of lifed' applications which might be good in that if they are older and aren't selling more than a couple copies a month, they might not need to be "cluttering" up the store which is one of iPhone's big big problems.

Though it will even have me holding off submitting my recently overhauled and high quality but bargain applications(Metal Euchre and ListWatch) until I see if the market jumps enough. Some of us have rather large catalogs of applications so 5 is an easy number to bump and then Microsoft is losing out on some high quality titles on store opening.

The 5 app thing needs to be explained more. Does standard and pro versions of the same app count as 1 or 2. Do updates not count towards the count(Id hope not).
If I have 10 applications up the 2nd year, do I owe them $99 or $500...

I really think that Id be more on board with $99 for first 5 and like $250 for the next 5. I see what they are doing and like the concept, but Im not sure they executed it perfectly..

@ctitanic

If you are a beginner and are interested in testing you app then I believe that the proper investment is due. When I started doing business with my clients I had to put money upfront, taking the risk that I might lose the money but hey that's business. If you are just testing an app out then I don't see why MS should provide you with free exposure when they are putting the tools for you if you need it. Besides you don't want every script kiddy putting crappy software out there.
I understand that it's hard to sell software but one thing I notice about selling software and apple has taught that to many is that you have to make sure the interface is beautify and simplify and I betcha your software would sell more. A peace of software might be the best there is but it would mostly attract the geeks but not the average consumer and that's where the money is. If you are not selling your software and they are good then you must be doing something wrong. You should revise your methods of presenting and selling your software.

Like I said, if you are a new developer and you are not sure how your application is going to sale I doubt that would like to invest 100 dollars just to see what happens. So this fee the only thing that stops is the inclusion of new faces in that store. One of the reasons why PPC became so popular was because the developing tools where free and everybody was developing for them in a time where Palm was the competition and the developing tools for palm were expensive. Do not forget that.

Yes, handango and pocketgear may be asking for a bigger commission but there is not any risk involved in putting new applications for sales for new developers.

I have myself more than 5 applications for sale and only two of them make more than 100 dollars per year. It's really very hard to put in the market something that everybody wants to use unless it's a game. It's not that easy like may be many think. All developers are far from making millions like many think.

Its all about marketing and this is the reason why it's worth it. Also consider that many people on the iphone store buy apps on impulse and the same would apply here. People would be able to see your apps, read any review and with a click or two buy your software. If you are going to be distributing free apps then the marketplace is not for you. Or perhaps there will be an exception to free apps. Besides its not like MS is stopping developers from selling their app through other sitesgmethods which gives developers more freedom.

I don't see what the big deal is about an app store. Are people really that stupid that they won't think to buy a game or utiity if it isn't staring them in the face? I, personally, buy all of my apps from the author's web site if possible. The prices are reasonable and I believe the person that put in the hard work should get all the rewards, not some 3rd party vendor that just lists the programs. I will continue to buy directly from the authors!

From what I read it goes like this.

$99.00 year to be a licensed developer which includes 5 free app postings. So that's $19 per app to post which isn't bad.

$99.00 for each app there after

$0.00 if you are a student

I think this is a good thing and here is why. If you look at Apple's Appstore, which Apple and the media so proudly state that there are millions of apps. The majority of apps are absolute crap garbage get rich attempts from amature developers. It's one of the big knocks against Apple method. I've been using an iPhone for a while and I'm hard pressed to find apps to replace my old Windows Mobile Apps and the compariable ones that I do find are lacking in similar "power" features.

This method will help bring more serious developers/apps to the store which in turn provides a more marketible platform do to quality not quantity.

I think the only thing missing from their system is it should be free to post free apps. If a developer isn't going to make any money off an app, they should be allowed to freely post it, provided there is no potentional revenue gain..ie no adware and crap like that which is slowly becoming another problem on Apple's Appstore.

As for the 70%/20% profit sharing, you're paying to have your app hosted and marketed in a large central location easily accessible by every device owner. Goes a long way compared to hosting an app on your own site, spending time to ensure it's linkable and still hoping people find it.

I believe in free software and this fee is just stopping developers from posting these programs there. Also beginners will have to think twice about posting their applications in there after allthey don't know of they are going to get back those 100 dollars.

@efjay:

The complaint seems obvious. If developers want to be a part of the on-device store (likely the #1 go to source for apps in the future), they have to pay $99. I read that $99 gets 5 apps free, but additional apps are $99 each.

While that doesn't seem too bad for commercial apps, I'm not sure a lot of freeware authors would be willing to put up $100 per app -- and free apps are among the most popular on the iPhone store, I believe. They might be willing to shell out a $99 per year administration charge, but a per app charge is tough.

As you said, they can continue to distribute apps as they have, but I have to wonder how competing app stores like Handango and PocketGear will be affected. If the Marketplace becomes the #1 app vendor of WinMo apps (as I think it could), developers will want to be there.

Steve

The beauty is, you dont have to. As you said you can choose to continue to sell your apps the same way you do now through other stores and not have to deal with any fees. So I dont see what your complaint is.

Another article provides more information about the pricing:

"The software maker said it will charge developers $99 a year, plus $99 for each application they submit to get an app into the Windows Marketplace store. Through the end of this year, though, developers who register will be able to submit five applications at no additional charge."

source:
http://news.cnet.com/wireless/?keyword=Windows+...

That $99 might be a bargain for a couple of reasons.

First, the store will be on every Windows Mobile device coming out (unless carriers or OEMs hide it, if that's allowed). This means more people might be exposed to your software and you might get more sales.

Second, the 30% commission is lower than Handango and PocketGear by a large margin, isn't it? If Handango takes 60% and your app is $10, you'll get $3 more per sale with Microsoft. Selling 33 apps per year (which I assume you do) would break even.

My biggest problem with the price is that you can only sell 5 apps for that $99. If you want to sell 6, what happens?

I wouldn't mind paying $99 a year for administrative purposes (keeping my tax information, mailing me periodic checks, etc.), but it should be for unlimited apps.

The only reason I can think of to limit the number of apps allowed is to cut down on junk apps. I don't want the Microsoft store to be full of fart and beer apps. :D

Steve