Microsoft now lets developers sell apps in bulk through Windows Store for Business

What good are 300 million devices running Windows 10 if developers can’t sell apps to as many of them as possible?

Microsoft today announced developers can now sell their apps in volume to business and education users running Windows 10. Using the Windows Store for Business, organizations can purchase apps in volume with credit cards. Microsoft plans to add more purchase options in the future, including invoicing, volume discounts, and organizational in-app purchases.

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Windows Store for Business lets IT departments acquire, manage, and distribute apps to Windows 10 devices by directly assigning apps, publishing apps to a private store, or connecting with management solutions. Organizations can choose their preferred distribution method. That now applies not to just a company’s own apps, but third-party ones as well.

Microsoft is now pitching developers that the Windows Store for Business is a way to extend the reach of their apps and make more money. The company estimates small to medium businesses alone spend roughly $70 billion annually on desktop software, applications, and utilities.

There is a limitation, though: Developers have to be in a supported country before they can sell paid apps in volume.

The 35 countries supported are as follows: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.

If you’re a developer in one of these countries, check that “Organizational licensing” is enabled in the Dev Center (instructions). You may also want to read the App Developer Agreement on MSDN.

Just like apps purchased by consumers, payouts and reports for organizational purchases work in the same way. Transaction details and payout information will be included in your Payout Statement in Dev Center. Apps purchased in bulk by businesses will show up as “Volume acquisitions by organizations.”