Microsoft has decided to decrease its cut to 30 percent of application sales revenue from programs sold in the Windows Store, which is the app marketplace the company plans to build into Windows 8. Also, once a app hits the $25,000 mark Microsoft will take only a 20 percent cut. It’s no secret that Mr. Softy has have made developers one of its main priorities in launching its mobile operating system, Windows Phone, and it looks like it will continue that path with Windows 8.
The software giant has big plans for next year, like the launch of its Windows Store with Windows 8. The store is expected to release in the beta of Windows 8 in late February 2012 and it will likely be the main way that ARM-based Windows 8 tablets get new apps.
Developers who are interested will have to hear from Microsoft first because submissions for the beta will be by invitation only. The company is going all in with its store, giving devs not only a favorable percentage of app sales, but creative tools that allow them to control their apps even further: like pricing, versions of an app that end after specific period of time, offering subscriptions within an app, and the ability to use your own subscription and payment mechanisms.
This is an aggressive move on the part of Microsoft, their taking this approach to entice developers to make the jump to their ecosystem of Windows powered devices (phones, tablets, PC’s and gaming consoles). It’s going to be really interesting to see if this strategy pays off, because it has a steep hill to climb when it comes to competing with Apple and Google.
[via cnet]