Microsoft Launches Windows Phone Developer Center

On Tuesday, in preparation for the imminent Windows Phone 8 release, Microsoft launched the Windows Phone Dev Center, the ultimate destination for anyone designing apps for its mobile operating systems.

The new website replaces the App Hub and features an enhanced backend, a simplified layout, more payment options and better analytics tools, according to Microsoft. It also expands the app market to include 191 countries and regions.

A developer hangout

The Dev Center is the result of “months of careful planning” and attention to user feedback. It sports a clean, colourful design, inspired by the Windows layout previously known under the codename “Metro”. The homepage now contains useful shortcuts to common tasks, along with Windows Phone community news.

Microsoft has not just redesigned the interface, it has updated the infrastructure, adding more server capacity and streamlining the processes for app submission, certification and publication.

The new portal offers developers fresh opportunities to sell their apps. Registration is now possible in over 178 markets, which is around four times as many as before. Another new feature allows developers to set unique app prices for each of 191 countries and regions around the world supported by Windows Phone Marketplace.

The Dev Center also ditches the old 100- tester limit, enabling app designers to conduct beta tests involving thousands of users.

After the update, developers are finally able to use PayPal for all transactions, a feature that has been requested by App Hub users for years. Many other forms of payment have also been added.

Finally, the Dev Center introduces new analytic tools for tracking app downloads and performance. It can show downloads by purchase type – free, paid or trial, and even track how many trial users decided to purchase the app.

Microsoft has promised to continue to fine tune and optimise the site and infrastructure in the weeks ahead.

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