Microsoft has a win-win offer for both developers and businesses using Windows software.
Currently, there are about 300 million devices out in the wild running Windows 10, and Microsoft wants to better connect developers to businesses.
Today, the company announced that developers will be able to sell their apps in volume to businesses and educational institutions running Windows 10.
Besides the many features already provided for in Windows 10, organizations can purchase the apps they need to run their businesses via the Windows Store for Business. This provides an easier way for business owners to access Windows apps and distribute them across their workforce on devices running Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system.
In addition, Windows Store for Business also lets businesses get volume discounts on apps they purchase. However, it is only available to those businesses who have bought and installed Windows 10 Enterprise onto their computers and tablets.
Because businesses can now purchase apps through the Windows Store for Business and get those apps at a discount when bought in bulk, the developers who make those very apps have a new storefront to tap into and make more sales. It's not clear though just how discounted prices are broken down between Microsoft and the developers who create apps.
Previously, the Windows Store for Business only offered free applications, but now that Microsoft has opened it up for developers to make profits and businesses to make savings, the company is planning on offering even more purchase options. In the future, Microsoft may offer invoicing, volume discounts and organizational in-app purchases too.
By Microsoft's numbers, small to medium sized businesses spend about $70 billion every year on Windows desktop software, apps and utilities. That's the market the company is pitching to developers if they're in a supported country.
That seems to be the only downside in this win-win situation between developers and businesses. Developers must be from one of the 35 countries being supported at the moment for Microsoft's latest enterprise initiative.
Some of the supported countries include (in alphabetical order): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the U.S. and others.
