14 DAY TRIAL // Even though Microsoft is struggling so hard to bring high-quality software on Windows 8.1, it’s no secret that the Windows Store was full of scam apps and lots of users actually fell victims to them.
After media from all over the world started reporting on such apps, Microsoft had no other option than to have a look into its own store and remove some of the items that did not meet its requirements.
It turns out that the company has actually deleted no less than 1,500 apps so far, and to make sure that scam apps no longer make it to the store, it’s also updating its certification requirements to “ensure that apps are named and described in a way doesn’t misrepresent their purpose,” as Microsoft’s Todd Brix has said today in a statement.
From now on, all apps must use a name that clearly and accurately reflects their functionality, while categories must be selected more wisely, according to the function and purpose. At the same time, icons must be different from the existing ones to avoid being mistaken with others.
“These revised policies are being applied to all new app submissions and existing app updates for both the Windows and Windows Phone Store. We’ve also been working on titles already in the catalog, conducting a review of Windows Store to identify titles that do not comply with our modified certification requirements. This process is continuing as we work to be as thorough and transparent as possible in our review,” Brix adds.
And still, the company says that although there were so many scam apps in the store, the developers behind them aren’t trying to trick you into believing that you are downloading their software to get your money. In fact, they all have good intentions, Brix explains, so all users who have purchased apps that have been removed from the store will get their money back.
“Most of the developers behind apps that are found to violate our policies have good intentions and agree to make the necessary changes when notified. Others have been less receptive, causing us to remove more than 1,500 apps as part of this review so far (as always we will gladly refund the cost of an app that is downloaded as a result of an erroneous title or description),” Brix concludes.
At this point, there are more than 170,000 apps in the Windows Store, and their number is growing, but it remains to be seen whether the company can really put the focus on quality rather than on quantity.