Windows Store
| A component of | |
|---|---|
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Windows Store on Windows 10
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| Details | |
| Type | App store |
| Included with | Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Server 2016, Xbox One Windows Holographic |
| Replaces | Windows Marketplace |
| Service name | Windows Store Service (WSService) |
| Description | Provides infrastructure support for Windows Store. This service is started on demand and if disabled applications bought using Windows Store will not behave correctly. |
| Support status | |
| Active / +669,000 Apps | |
| Related components | |
Windows Store is an app store for Microsoft Windows, starting with Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. It is the primary means of distributing Universal Windows Platform apps. Both free and paid apps can be distributed through Windows Store, with paid apps ranging in cost from US$0.99 to $999.99. Windows Store was first made available with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on February 29, 2012. Later in 2015, Windows Phone Store, Xbox Video and Xbox Music stores were merged into Windows Store.
As with other similar platforms, such as the Mac App Store and Google Play, Windows Store is curated and apps must be certified for compatibility and content. With all app sales, Microsoft takes 30% of the sale price. Prior to January 1, 2015, the cut was reduced to 20% after the developer's profits reached $25,000.
According to Microsoft, as of September 28, 2015, there are over 669,000 apps available on the Windows Store, which includes apps for Windows NT, Windows Phone, and Universal apps, which work on both platforms. Games, Entertainment, Books and Reference, and Education are the largest categories by number of apps and the majority of the app developers have 1 app.
Microsoft previously maintained a similar digital distribution system for software known as Windows Marketplace, which allowed customers to purchase software online and download it to their computer. Product keys and licenses were tracked by the platform, allowing users to retrieve their purchases when switching computers. Windows Marketplace was discontinued in November 2008.
Microsoft first announced a digital distribution service for Windows at its presentation during the Build developer conference on September 13, 2011. Further details announced during the conference revealed that the store would be able to hold listings for both certified traditional Windows apps, as well as what was called "Metro-style apps" at the time: tightly-sandboxed software based on Microsoft design guidelines that are constantly monitored for quality and compliance. For consumers, Windows Store is intended to be the only way to obtain Metro-style apps. While announced alongside the "Developer Preview" release of Windows 8, Windows Store itself did not become available until the "Consumer Preview", released in February 2012.
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