Microsoft Drops $99 Charge for Developers to Provide App Updates: But, I Predict App Devs Will Still Be Discouraged

I thought I understood Microsoft’s plans for developers submitting apps to the upcoming Windows Mobile app store until I read this item on CNET News…

Microsoft drops plan to charge for WinMo updates

The big news in Tom Krazit’s piece is that Microsoft is dropping its plan to charge $99 to developers for updates to apps submitted more than 7 days after the initial app submission. This seems like a good change to a horrible anti-marketing policy. But, Microsoft’s app store still seems a bit unfriendly to small developers to me. They seem to be charging for everything except app updates. Here’s the list of developer app fee policies…

- $99/year to be able to submit applications to the Windows Mobile app market
- In 2009 developers can submit up to 5 apps under the initial $99 fee
- Starting in 2010, app developers need to pay an addition $99 per submitted app in addition to the annual $99 developer fee

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