Microsoft openly pays developers up front for writing Windows Phone 8 apps. The company right now has an offer to pay $100 for any app that gets published in the Windows store by the end of the month. But there’s a cap: up to $2,000 per developer. Word is that Microsoft is offering some developers way more than that, as much $100,000 to bring their apps to Windows Phone 8. This tidbit was first reported by Bloomberg’s Ashlee Vance, but its been confirmed by two sources contacted by Business Insider. The move makes sense for Microsoft. Its Windows Phone 8 operating system for smartphones doesn’t have strong app selection like Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android phones do. Apps are very important to many smartphone customers, and it’s a big challenge for Microsoft to convince people to buy Windows Phones if its app store doesn’t have the apps they want.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.