Download Windows 8 Ad SDK for Metro Apps

Only a few days ago, Microsoft unveiled details on what the upcoming Windows Store for Windows 8 applications is all about, and some new tools for developers to take advantage of when building applications for the OS are now available.

Among them, we can count the Microsoft Advertising SDK for Windows 8, through which developers can find new ways to monetize Metro applications.

The availability of this feature for Metro applications is expected to prove beneficial for both software developers and for advertisers.

“Microsoft is focused on helping Windows 8 developers monetize their applications in a variety of ways, one of which is advertising,” the Redmond-based software giant explains.

“The purpose of this technical preview is to enable developers to experiment and get more comfortable with advertising capabilities that can be added to Windows 8 applications.”

For the time being, the Microsoft Advertising SDK for Windows 8 is available in a pre-release version, so that developers could start building their apps for the platform.

However, the preview release offers the option to write fully working code for having ads included in Windows Metro style apps.

“We do not anticipate that the APIs will change significantly between the preview and first formal releases, but you will be required to repackage your app with the final bits in order to receive payouts,” Microsoft notes.

The building of applications for the Windows 8 platform begins with downloading the Developer Preview of the platform that includes the software development kit for getting started.

To take advantage of what the Win8 Ad SDK has to offer, developers will have to have Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows 8 installed, and an active Windows Live ID.

Only free applications will be available in the Windows Store at launch in February 2012, but additional app types will be accepted later next year, which means that developers interested in releasing ad-supported apps will have enough time to insert the necessary code in them before the storefront fully launches.

The Microsoft Advertising SDK for Windows 8 is available for download from Softpedia via this link.

Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 M3 is available for download here.