Today, Microsoft has brought together the Windows and Windows Phone developer programs. This decision was apparently decided upon to leverage developers to design applications to support a wider array of device classes. With a number of platforms all sharing a common Windows core, it makes sense to focus the developer programs into a larger path to distribution.
With Windows and Windows Phone being pitched together as the same package, the company has also brought together the marketing teams of each product.
When the Xbox One is released it will also rely on the common Windows core. This will allow interconnectivity between many different types of devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and certain TVs. The unification of the developer groups was a logical step with so many platforms built upon the same Windows core.
Registered Windows Store developers can submit Windows Phone apps at no cost and vice versa. At least for now, Microsoft has decided to lower the price for building on both platforms. You can also enjoy a free renewal of your account for an entire year if you were already a developer for Windows Store and Windows Phone.
With the release of Windows 8.1, Microsoft has fixed many usability issues that have historically made Windows 8 difficult to work with and design for. Those issues have contributed largely to the reasons that have held back the Windows Phone platform from being able to reach deeper market penetration. Fewer standalone and cross platform applications have resulted less consumer interest.
Microsoft is clearly beginning to see the need to remove the red tape that it has come to be known for over the past few decades. By removing some of the hoops that developers have been expected to jump through, and unifying the development registrations systems for, both, Windows and Windows Phone, it seems the buying public can now look forward to greater cross-platform integration and accessibility.
