Unless we have been disconnected from the Internet in recent months we will know that developers have grown tired of the rules, and commissions, of the Apple (App Store) and Google (Play Store) stores. Epic Games, for example, has seen its hit game, Fornite, been removed from the iOS app store because the company did not like the payment gateway. It is clear that there are changes in the policies of these stores, although before the war between developers will give much to talk about. Who does not want problems and, in addition, takes advantage to humiliate the absurd war of Apple and Google against the developers is Microsoft.
Microsoft has its own application store on Windows: the Microsoft Store. Within this store we can find apps and games, both free and paid, that we can download and install on our computer as if it were a mobile application store. It is similar, for example, to how the macOS App Store works.
It’s true that Microsoft has been pretty tough on its store standards . And this is one of the reasons why, among other things, neither Chrome nor Firefox are in it. However, the mindset of the company is changing. And now, Microsoft has released 10 new principles that expose the app stores of its rivals.
New rules for the Microsoft Store in Windows 10
These new standards are going to be the ones that take the Windows experience to a new level.
- Developers will be free to choose how to distribute their programs . They can do it through the Microsoft Store, or their own store. Windows will not block the installation of third-party app stores.
- An application will never be blocked by the developer’s business model . Neither by how it transmits the contents, either locally or from the cloud (streaming).
- No application will be blocked by the payment system chosen by the developer. You can use the Microsoft platform, or any other external system.
- Developers will always have access to information about interoperability interfaces, as established by Microsoft principles.
- All developers will have access to the Microsoft App Store as long as they meet the basic standards and requirements for security, privacy, content and quality.
- Microsoft Store fees are reasonable and will reflect competition. In addition, developers are free to choose this store to distribute the applications, or do it in another way. Windows will not block any programs from developers who do not want to use the store.
- Developers will be able to communicate with users through their applications for legitimate business purposes.
- Microsoft applications will have the same standards, and the same conditions (for example, visibility) as third-party applications.
- Microsoft will not use non-public information or data from other developers to compete with them.
- All promotional and marketing rules, regulations, policies, and opportunities will be fully transparent and consistent.
As we can see, these new rules seek to make Windows 10 an open platform, with policies that are totally contrary to those of the Google and Apple stores . Within Windows there may be free competition so that developers can choose through which platform to distribute their applications without retaliating for using one or the other. Even now, we may finally see Google Chrome in the store (something logical, on the other hand, since Edge is based on its engine).
We will have to wait and see if these new rules stir the conscience of Google and Apple and, finally, this absurd war to take over the monopoly of their own systems is over.
