Developers complaining about delayed Marketplace payments

January 18, 2010 | By Surur

Via MSMobiles.com we hear that many developers, it seems mainly non-US ones, are complaining of having made the payment threshold for selling apps in marketplace (which seems to be around $1000) and finding their payments not being made.

Developers are also complaining of suddenly being told they are not eligible to be paid and a general lack of feedback from Microsoft regarding the money side of the marketplace.

While it is encouraging to read small developers are making thousands of dollars on Marketplace, despite its low distribution currently, it is much less encouraging for these developers not to reap the reward of their work.

Read this thread here on the Microsoft forums for more details on the developer payment issues, which we hope Microsoft addresses rapidly if they really want to encourage developers to program for their platform.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged marketplace, microsoft

Argh

That's terrible and the thread appears to be a week old with no "official" replies.

I hope that they have been contacted directly, at least, but it doesn't sound like it.
http://twitter.com/one_solo @one_solo

Very sad indeed. M$ is always shooting in the foot
MoB

It seems like Microsoft hates Windows Mobile, hates all WM developers and finally hates all WM users as well. And you know what? There are more mobile OS platforms then WM…
Eric

I stopped following MSMobiles.com because all they have done for two years is bitch about and hunt for any negative news about windows mobile. While the article may be true, if all I wanted was negative news about winmo, I would follow an iPhone blog.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Lennard Lennard

I totally agree with you on this one. on a serious note: when i read the article above and I reached the part that mentioned MSMobiles, I was about to close the tab and move on.
http://intensedebate.com/people/l3v5y l3v5y

MSMobiles hate WM, but pretend they like it enough to bitch and moan about everything!

Peter

Anyway, Windows MarketPlace is really crap. It's been a long time I decided to boycott this horrible thing. MS really play its customers for fools.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Foamy Foamy

I really hope they plan a marketplace overhaul with WM7. currently marketplace is the one thing that's making me really worry for the future of WM. MS should have fixed it by now. i could forgive the problems on initial release but it's been several months now and next to nothing has been done. it suggests that either they have very few resources (possibly due to a WM7 marketplace, possible since it is unlikely to support older applications outside of an emulator) or they just don't care. If they have lost people to work on the WM7 marketplace then they cant just forget about the current one because there will be 6.x devices for years. another option would be a new version coming with 6.6.
Peter

Seriously, I think they should just announce that they stop the MarketPlace. Have nothing is better than to have what it currently is. It gives such a bad image of Microsoft, and customers really feel they are treated like idiots. Witing for the xda marketplace.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Foamy Foamy

I don't think that would be a good idea. it would be much easier to fix the problems than to scrap it. it would also cause much less damage to their reputation. Also WM7 is going to need a decent marketplace to survive and having a marketplace for 7 and not for 6.6 would make no sense.

Peter

Regarding microsoft's reputation I think the damage is already done unfortunately….. Since the beginning this MarketPlace has been a big failure. Now it's too late.
If you read the forum you will see that no one is satisfied. Customers complain (geographic discrimination, no download to SD card, price, lack of apps proposed, problems with credit cards, problems with languages, etc, etc, etc…)….Developers complain…… And no answer from officials. That's the worst point.
I am sorry but I definitely believe that this MarketPace is highly useless.

Max

My experience is quite different from yours – very easy to use (already got some useful apps), no problems with CC – billed to my carrier, don't care for SD, since most apps are small and fit on the main memory, prices are reasonable (but why would you blame Microsoft for how much the apps cost, anyway?).

Most threads in the WMM forum are answered by MSFT, if you don't believe, just go there and see how many threads have the "Answered" checkmark next to them – pretty much all.

http://intensedebate.com/people/l3v5y l3v5y

I agree, they may not be paying all the developers, and developers may not bother to submit applications/charge too much, but they do at least deal with a lot of dev requests, and are generally pretty good with support.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Foamy Foamy

I am sure that the long term damage would be less if they fixed everything than if they scraped it. the worst damage would be done by doing nothing. fixing it would be cheaper and easier than scrapping.
http://twitter.com/eepyaich @eepyaich

While there have certainly been, and continue to be, many problems with the marketplace (in particular the geographic fragmentation and the highly emotive lack of SD installs [which, FWIF, I thought was also a problem with the much lauded Androind marketplace]), I think it is going a bit far to call the marketplace useless.____Despite knowing that there are many other places I can get Apps (I've been a WM user now since the first version of Windows CE), I still like the fact that there is a place I can go, on my device, to see a growing selection of useful applications and games. Yes, I'd love the selection to grow much faster, but I've bought around a dozen apps and games that I'm very happy with and certainly don't want to see the marketplace killed.____

http://intensedebate.com/people/l3v5y l3v5y

Thing is, Android can't install anywhere but the internal storage (without Apps2SD).

WMM isn't great, but it's a good starting point and will get better!

aleis

another thing making me worry about getting app support (which is NEEDED!).
the apps u can find on xda and other outlets are not going to cut it…
i need a single repository for QUALITY apps. now developers are going to be scared to spend time (and money) to not get anything back. the thing is…im still interested!
not that android isnt great…its just, come on its microsoft!
i want those gestures and that zune-hd`ish stuff

http://intensedebate.com/people/l3v5y l3v5y

Developers tend to release on XDA when they're still developing/don't want to comercialise. When they start making money, they shift it elsewhere (lots of marketplaces out there).

What you've just said is it's not actually MSs fault, its developers not spending time on the UI or overcharging rather than the marketplace itself.

Gestures in WM6.5 already exist.

Anup

Marketplace????? whats that???? (am being sarcastic for those who dont get it ) sure i want to purchase one/two but am prevented cause of two things –

1. country – am in India and it automatically takes it as UK (god know's why) and of course CC does not work and no paypal as yet….so BIG DUHHHHH….

2. Content – why would i want to visit it when Handango or MobiHand or countless other stores out there are better which let me install on my mSD card

http://intensedebate.com/people/l3v5y l3v5y

With WM you have the choice. Don't want certified software from one marketplace, there's this thing called Google that other platforms are lacking…