More developers will be able to submit apps in the next Windows Store release

Apr 20, 2012 12:34 GMT  ·  By

One of the features that Windows 8 arrives with later this year will be access to Metro-style applications through an official portal, Windows Store.

The storefront was made publicly accessible in a beta state when Windows 8 Consumer Preview arrived, and it is bound to get enhancements in the next release of the platform.

To be more precise, the Redmond-based company plans on making the app portal available for submissions for more developers around the world.

Initially available only for app builders in five countries, the Windows Store will start accepting submissions from 33 new markets when the next Windows 8 release arrives.

“We want to support developers regardless of where they are, and give customers apps that match their interests, including local offerings,” Microsoft’s Antoine Leblond notes in a blog post.

“We’ve designed the Store to provide both developers and customers with flexibility and familiarity in their transaction options. We’ve seen millions of Consumer Preview app downloads, by people in more than 200 markets, which just confirms our responsibility to deliver globally.”

The service will be rolled-out gradually, yet the expansion from the currently supported five countries (France, Germany, India, Japan and the United States) to 38 markets in the next milestone is a significant one.

Additionally, the number of market-specific app catalogs will increase from 5 to 26 (there is also China, Microsoft notes), while the rest of users will access the Rest of the World catalog.

At the same time, the localization coverage of the pre-release developer portal will be expanded too, with 7 new languages planned to be added.

“When we release the next update to the Store service, you’ll be able to submit Metro style pre-release apps in any of 109 languages, as long as the app also includes a version in one of 12 app certification languages (an increase of 7 languages from the Consumer Preview),” Microsoft notes.

“In each dimension of the Store – developer portal, app submission markets, app certification, app languages, app catalogs – we are increasing the number of languages, consistent with our goal to keep improving and growing the service.”

Windows 8 is still in the pre-release stage, and Microsoft plans on increasing support for developers in more markets both before commercial availability of the platform and after that.

Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview Build 8250