Listing Desktop Apps in the Windows 8 Store
- by David Paquette
So it looks like Microsoft will be allowing publishers to list their desktop apps in the Windows 8 Store. As per the developer agreement: b. Desktop App Submission. You may submit an app description for one or more desktop apps to the Windows Store. Notwithstanding anything else in this agreement, you understand that Microsoft will not offer any desktop apps through the Store and only Windows Store apps are made available through the Windows Store. Microsoft may, but is not required to, list the desktop app in the Windows Store together with a link you provide, to a website where users can acquire the app. You are solely responsible and agree to maintain that website and provide an updated link to Microsoft if the url changes. Desktop apps are any apps built using APIs other than the APIs for Windows Store apps that run on Windows 8. As the agreement states, Microsoft will not distribute desktop apps through the store, but they will provide a link to a website where users can download your desktop app. If nothing else, it is a great way to advertise your app. Hopefully this doesn’t cause any confusion with consumers. Will end users understand why some apps install automatically while others just send you to a website?
