Microsoft app store playbook swipes at Apple, Google

[steven36]

In a not-so-subtle dig at Apple and Google, Microsoft today announced a series of "principles" for its Windows 10 App Store — including letting users choose their own payment system for in-app purchases — that it says should serve as a model for other app stores.

 

 

Why it matters: The move comes as antitrust regulators in the U.S. and around the world are spotlighting how both Apple and Google manage their mobile platforms and as some developers charge them with running their app stores unfairly.

 

Details: In addition to offering developers the option to use an alternative payment mechanism for in-app purchases, Microsoft pledged that it will, among other things:

• allow competing app stores;
• hold its own apps to the same standards as those of other companies;
• allow app makers to decide what they do and don't want to sell within their app;
• and allow any developer in its store "as long as it meets objective standards and requirements, including those for security, privacy, quality, content, and digital safety."

 

The big picture: There's renewed debate over how much control platform makers should have over the distribution of apps that run on them.

• Earlier this week, House Judiciary Committee Democrats issued a report suggesting Apple is a monopolist that abuses its power given both the fees it collects and its ability to limit competing apps, allegations that Apple rejects.
• Epic Games is suing Apple and Google for making it process all in-app payments through their systems, taking a 30% cut in the process.
• Spotify, Match Group and others have also pressed Apple to change its App Store policies.

 

Between the lines: Microsoft, the last Big Tech company to face antritrust prosecution and the threat of breakup 20 years ago, has largely avoided scrutiny this time around, due to both its changed behavior and differing market position.

 

Our thought bubble: It's a savvy move for Microsoft, which already has most of these policies in place and stands to gain more from Apple and Google opening up.

• For example, Microsoft has been seeking looser rules to allow its Xcloud gaming service to run on the iPhone.

 

Yes, but: In addition to the Windows 10 store, Microsoft also runs the Xbox Store.

• That store is more tightly controlled and the only way to get games onto the console, much like the app stores run by Apple and Google, as well as game rivals like Sony.
• Microsoft acknowledges this in a blog post, but says those devices are more specialized and require expensive hardware that is subsidized through game sales.

 

What they're saying:

• John Bergmayer, legal director, Public Knowledge: "Microsoft is in the unique position of running a dominant platform — Windows — and distributing software on mobile platforms that it does not control. I think this gives it a unique perspective on this issue."
• Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney: "[I]t's wonderful to see Microsoft formally codify its long-held principles in Windows as an open platform

 

Source

[steven36]

Microsoft hits out at Apple with its new Windows app store policies

 

 

Microsoft is making some firm commitments to the future of app stores on Windows today. The software giant has published 10 principles it’s adopting as promises to app developers, including that it won’t block competing stores on the platform or block specific business models an app may use to make money.

 

The principles also cover Microsoft holding its own apps to the same standards as competing apps and a commitment to “charge reasonable fees” that are reflective of rival app stores on Windows. Microsoft also says it won’t block apps on Windows based on a developer’s choice of in-app payment systems.

 

These new principles are a clear response to app store issues surrounding both Apple and Google — in particular, Epic Games’ ongoing legal battle with Apple. Epic Games implemented its own payment system inside Fortnite on both iOS and Android, breaching Apple and Google’s policies and forcing developers to accept a 30 percent cut for in-app purchases of digital goods.

 

Apple and Google responded by removing Fortnite from their app stores, and Epic Games immediately filed a lawsuit against Apple and Google. Android users are still able to sideload Fortnite, thanks to the more open nature of Google’s OS, but iOS users are no longer able to install or reinstall the game. There have been arguments back and forth between Apple and Epic Games over these App Store policies that will ultimately be settled in court next year.

 

There is also growing concern from developers over Apple’s App Store policies that many believe restrict competition. Spotify, Epic Games, Tile, Match, and others have been rallying fellow developers against Apple, calling for “a level playing field for app businesses” and to provide freedom of choice on Apple devices.

 

The European Commission opened up a formal antitrust investigation into Apple’s App Store and Apple Pay practices earlier this year, and Congress released a blockbuster tech antitrust report earlier this week, labeling Apple a “monopoly” due to its control of iOS and iPadOS software.

 

“In the absence of competition, Apple’s monopoly power over software distribution to iOS devices has resulted in harms to competitors and competition, reducing quality and innovation among app developers, and increasing prices and reducing choices for consumers,” reads the report. The antitrust report also claims Apple uses “privacy as a sword to exclude rivals and a shield to insulate itself from charges of anticompetitive conduct.”

 

Microsoft makes clear its new app store policies are directed at Apple. “Windows 10 is an open platform,” says Rima Alaily, deputy general counsel at Microsoft. “Unlike some other popular digital platforms, developers are free to choose how they distribute their apps.”

 

The software maker also addresses the fact that it continues to charge developers 30 percent fees on its own Xbox store for in-game purchases. “It’s reasonable to ask why we are not also applying these principles to that Xbox store today,” says Alaily. “Game consoles are specialized devices optimized for a particular use. Though well-loved by their fans, they are vastly outnumbered in the marketplace by PCs and phones. And the business model for game consoles is very different to the ecosystem around PCs or phones.”

 

Microsoft often sells Xbox consoles at low margins and recoups some of its costs through digital sales of games and goods, including cuts of digital sales of games on its platform. That’s a different business model to Apple, which has high margins on iPhone and iPad devices and still enjoys 30 percent of revenue on top for in-app purchases.

 

Microsoft does admit it still has “more work to do to establish the right set of principles for game consoles.”

 

Here are all of Microsoft’s 10 app store principles:

1. Developers will have the freedom to choose whether to distribute their apps for Windows through our app store. We will not block competing app stores on Windows.
2. We will not block an app from Windows based on a developer’s business model or how it delivers content and services, including whether content is installed on a device or streamed from the cloud.
3. We will not block an app from Windows based on a developer’s choice of which payment system to use for processing purchases made in its app.
4. We will give developers timely access to information about the interoperability interfaces we use on Windows, as set forth in our Interoperability Principles.
5. Every developer will have access to our app store as long as it meets objective standards and requirements, including those for security, privacy, quality, content, and digital safety.
6. Our app store will charge reasonable fees that reflect the competition we face from other app stores on Windows and will not force a developer to sell within its app anything it doesn’t want to sell.
7. Our app store will not prevent developers from communicating directly with their users through their apps for legitimate business purposes.
8. Our app store will hold our own apps to the same standards to which it holds competing apps.
9. Microsoft will not use any non-public information or data from its app store about a developer’s app to compete with it.
10. Our app store will be transparent about its rules and policies and opportunities for promotion and marketing, apply these consistently and objectively, provide notice of changes, and make available a fair process to resolve disputes.

Source

[steven36]

Microsoft takes a jab at Apple, Google with new app store principles

 

 

The 10 principles will promote choice, fairness and innovation on Windows 10.

 

Microsoft announced 10 new app store principles in a blog post Thursday, needling Apple and Google's policies in the process. The new principles are intended to promote choice, fairness and innovation for software developers on Windows 10.

 

"Developers will have the freedom to choose whether to distribute their apps for Windows through our app store. We will not block competing app stores on Windows." the first principle reads.

 

"Windows 10 is an open platform. Unlike some other popular digital platforms, developers are free to choose how they distribute their apps," the tech giant wrote, alluding to Apple and Google.

 

Those companies are embroiled in a legal battle with Fortnite developer Epic over fees they charge in their respective app stores.

 

Earlier this month, lawmakers from the US House of Representatives accused Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple of "abuses of monopoly power" and called for restructuring of the companies. Politicians also took issue with Apple's "gatekeeper power" over its App Store.

Source

[steven36]

What this  is  is M$  making  a statement they agree  with Coalition for App Fairness's 10 points and boy  does this make Google and Apple look bad.

https://appfairness.org/our-vision/
 

Quote

 

by alexgieg

Since, according to the CAF, both Apple and Google violate these 10 principles with their respective app stores, Microsoft, as 3rd-player, has surely made a pretty splash of presenting themselves as the fair alternative. The cynic in me, however, says this means little unless they extend all this newfound preference for market openness to the Xbox app store, as that would be a truly game changing move, after all, differently from this symbolic gesture here, it'd mean Microsoft giving up actual revenue in exchange for sticking to principles, which it definitely won't do. So, all the teeth this move has is in the PR department. Useful, as it'll put some additional pressure on Apple and Google, but not actually a big deal on its own.

 

But I  never  seen anyone  attempt  to make multiple  stores  on Windows  ?  Most apps are not in  windows store,  you  just download  a  installer   from a website .Linux  has diffrent stores they  flathb  ,  snapcraft  , Appimage hub  these formats install  in every  distro .  then  you have Ubuntu Software and Manjaro  has  there own store them there's AUR and there  is another  one that has  snaped  , flatpac  and appimage  in one store  then  there's ppas  and other  places to install debs  that are like installers ,  maybe  in  the future  they be some store  on windows  with  pirate apps and games.Oh i forgot about Steam i guess that  is like a game store.   will  Google put a store  on Windows ?  I know M$  puts apps in all  stores  even on Linux. So do Google .Apple  are the closed off ones but they getting better  there caving in because they open source  Swift.  I don't  really care  about there apps  or services  what  i like seeing is  them  open sourcing there fameworks  so  can use it on everything