Will have winning applications available in the Windows Store at launch

Dec 7, 2011 14:51 GMT  ·  By

In preparation for Windows Store’s availability in Windows 8 Beta in February, Microsoft also kicked off a First Apps contest for developers interested in coming up with Metro-style applications.

Not only does Microsoft offer developers the possibility to reach a large user base with their applications, but the company also offers them increased revenues when compared to the industry standard.

When launched along with the Beta of Windows 8, the software storefront should include a series of free applications, with more of them, including paid ones, set to become available later next year.

To ensure that there are apps available for the planned February release, Microsoft launched the aforementioned contest aimed at devs interested in building Metro-style apps.

The winning apps will be included in the Windows Store, and developers behind them will also receive:

- A Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC from the BUILD conference, so you can test your apps with touch and sensors - One year of Windows Azure, so you can build apps that feel connected and alive - A two-year subscription to the Store, so you can continue to update and improve your app

Submissions close on Sunday, January 8 at 11:59pm PST, which means that app builders have only one month to come up with software to enter the contest.

“Finalists will be notified on Sunday, January 15. Finalists must update their app to run on a new, confidential Windows 8 build provided by us and resubmit their app before February 3 to be eligible to win,” the Redmond giant explains.

“You'll need a Windows Live ID to sign in to the contest site and submit your app. You'll also need the Windows 8 Developer Preview with developer tools in order to start building your app.”

Additional info on the contest can be found available on the special website Microsoft put in place for it.

The Windows 8 Developer Preview is available for download from Softpedia via this link.