Microsoft Unifies Windows Phone Store And Windows Store Developer Accounts

Microsoft has confirmed that it has finished the unification of developer accounts for the Windows Phone Store and the Windows Store. The unification means that developers can use a single account for all Microsoft Apps which costs $19 a year for an individual or $99 a year for a company, and they can choose to publish apps to both Windows and Windows Phone users for no extra cost.

• Registered Windows Store developers can now submit apps to the Windows Phone Store at no additional cost, using the same Microsoft account.
• Registered Windows Phone developers can now submit apps to the Windows Store at no additional cost, using the same Microsoft account.
• New developers can register and existing developers can renew their account using the same Microsoft account. Developers will enter registration information just once and pay a single lower price of $19 for an Individual and $99 for a Company account, providing access to publish apps for both Windows and Windows Phone users.
• Developers already registered with both Windows Store and Windows Phone using the same Microsoft account will receive a code via email this month, valid for a free one-year renewal when their existing registration is up for renewal.
• Students continue to be supported through the DreamSpark program.

The unification of the two developer account systems is part of a longer term Microsoft plan to unify its Windows ecosystem into one single andconvenient place. Rumours so far have suggested that Microsoft are intending to unify both the Windows Phone App Store and the Windows App Store into one App Store.

Image courtesy of Microsoft