14 DAY TRIAL // Recently, Redmond-based software giant Microsoft has released a new version of their Microsoft Advertising SDK for Windows Phone 7, which now offers developers the possibility to integrate text and banner ads into the software solutions they built using the XNA Framework.
The new Ad SDK also features support for applications built using Silverlight, just as it did before, while adding support for games developed with the use of XNA Framework.
According to Microsoft, the new solution is available as a single download, which should offer all the Dynamic Linked Libraries (DLLs)/Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that developers would need to include this monetization model with their software solutions.
“Mobile gaming developers can easily integrate banner or text ads into their Windows Phone 7 gaming apps while leveraging game-specific features like 3D graphics support, multiple graphic blend modes, built-in game loop and much more,” Microsoft's Jenifer Handler announced via a blog post.
US-based mobile gaming developers who plan on targeting the US market with their software solutions should be able to take full advantage of the ad-based revenue model by following a three-step process.
According to Microsoft's website, the three steps would include:
Download the SDK Download the Ad Control SDK. Download the Ad SDK to build your app and run ads in test mode that requires no on-boarding to try out the Microsoft Advertising SDK for Windows Phone 7.
Sign Up for pubCenter Mobile
Register your mobile app. Sign up and register your Windows Phone 7 apps using Microsoft Advertising’s solution for Windows Phone 7 publishers and app developers. (Microsoft's pubCenter can be accessed here.)
Implement and Submit
Set the Application Id and Ad Unit Id properties in the Ad Control and submit your ad-enabled app to the Windows Phone marketplace. The new Microsoft Advertising SDK for Windows Phone 7 is just another means for developers to increase their application revenues.
“The exchange includes multiple advertiser sales channels competing in real-time to purchase your ad inventory, including Microsoft’s national sales force and adCenter’s significant market footprint,” Microsoft notes.
“Microsoft's best-in-class ad targeting solution means better click through rates and better monetization, and the new SDK is integrated with Microsoft pubCenter to give you actionable reporting of how ads are performing in your applications.”
Microsoft Ad SDK for Windows Phone 7 is available for download from Softpedia too, via this link.