The Windows Store, home to apps and games for Windows RT and Windows 8, has finally reached the 150,000 app milestone. To put things in perspective, the Windows Store hit the 100,000 app milestone back in July of 2013. The Store passed the 40,000 app milestone back in January of 2013.
According to data from MetroStore Scanner, the Windows Store has finally reached the 150,000 app milestone, worldwide. Microsoft has been working very hard as of late, offering developers new app availability settings and simplified certification requirements so apps can be published faster. Microsoft even recently revealed that in-app purchases account for the main revenue source for monetizing apps, especially when it comes to games. Microsoft is trying to make it easier for developers to create Windows Store apps.
While the Windows Store continues to see improvement as the months go by, the app count has struggled to climb. The Windows Store has seen a slow climb in apps since July of 2013, having only jumped up by 50,000 apps in just eight months. Of course, of all these new apps that have been made available, a lot of them are crap or spam apps. Only a handful of the 150,000 apps are actually considered “quality apps” – apps that have a balance between design, content, and usefulness. An example of a quality app would be the Facebook app, or a game like Asphalt 8 Airborne.
But its not all grim for the Windows Store. We are beginning to see a gradual influx of new quality apps being added to the store. In fact, VLC Beta, Tapatalk, Flipboard, Tweetium, Rayman Fiesta Run, and much more were made available to the Windows Store over the recent months. Microsoft themselves are quite proud of this achievement.
“Many new great apps are added each day every day to the Windows Store, now with downloads growing 49 percent in the last six months. We are proud of the quality apps that are available and the interest consumers are showing. The majority of top apps have joined our platforms – over the last 7 months, 16 high profile apps or portfolios joined either the Windows Store, the Windows Phone Store or both, such as Facebook, Flipboard, Instagram, Vine, Mint, Trip Advisor and Asphalt 8: Airborne. And the number of visitors to the Windows Store alone has quadrupled,” a Microsoft spokesperson told WinBeta.
But are you impressed with the 150,000 app milestone? What can Microsoft do to help boost interest in the Windows Store? Sound off in the comments below.
Further reading: Microsoft, Windows Store
