Microsoft expanding Windows Store in advance of Windows 8 release
Microsoft is busy expanding Windows Store to include more countries and more markets. All in advance of the impending release of Windows 8.
Many people believe Windows 8, Microsoft’s next operating system, will live or die by the quality and quantity of the apps built for it. Lest we forget that apps will be a big part of Windows 8 thanks to the Metro UI, whether you’re on a desktop, a laptop, or a tablet. Which is something of a gamble, one which Microsoft needs to pay off lest it fail to successfully conjure up a version of Windows to rule all devices.
If you want apps, you need developers. If you want developers, you need to give people the tools and platform with which to build with and on. Which is exactly what Microsoft is now doing. In an official MSDN blog post, the company spells out the plans for its version of the App Store and Google Play.
Currently developers in just five countries can submit apps to Windows Store. The next update to Windows Store will see that number rise to 38. The same update will also see the number of ‘market-specific app catalogs’ rise from five to 26. Both these measures will bring in more developers hoping to build apps for Windows 8 while it’s still at the pre-release stage.
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview came with a small selection of apps, and Microsoft further states, “We’ve seen millions of Consumer Preview app downloads, by people in more than 200 markets.” Which is vague but clearly better than not sharing any information at all on how things are progressing.
We’re really now just waiting for the Windows 8 Release Candidate to be unveiled, of which this update to Windows Store will surely be a part of. Windows 8 is still on course for a full release towards the end of 2012. Unless something drastic crops up in the meantime.
