Microsoft is getting the hang of the apps store concept. Following the announcement of the Windows Store last year, it has now released a beta version of Office Store, based around the forthcoming Office 2013.
Windows Store enables developers to submit their applications for inclusion in the store once they had paid a one-off fee to register. Microsoft earns 30% of the first $25,000 of revenue and 20% thereafter. Office Store operates in the same way but Microsoft takes 20% of net revenue from every transaction – either to reflect lower transaction values or operate in line with other app stores. Office Store apps are web-based but integrate with Office, thereby acting as a bridge between on and off-premise resources. Microsoft will no doubt generate additional revenue from Office Store but it will also play an important role in maintaining developer interest. There must also be an expectation that it will attract consumer attention, which will feed through to the business community.