Windows Phone 8 has not had the impact many believed it would have had at its inception. However, there are many Windows Phone lovers out there who are have braced the new Metro UI OS with open arms. Having said that, the number of apps on the Windows Phone Store has for long been a question of worry. According to MetroStore Scanner, that keeps a tab on the daily number of app submissions to the Windows Phone Store, the number of submissions saw its worst month in February, 2013. A total of a meagre 148 apps were submitted daily to the store that month and things were looking down.
Things from then on changed. March saw a steady rise in the number of apps submitted and peaked at around 258 each day. This brought a smile on the number of Windows Phone lovers even though most apps submitted were only for WP8 leaving WP7 users in the dark. While things have not really changed since then( in terms of apps for WP7 ), Windows Phone 8 seems to be enjoying its best days since its launch. With 580 app submissions every day for the month of June, it surely has begun to peak.
Monthly app submissions is looking good according to analysts. Around 13,000-15,000 apps(each month) have been submitted in the last 3 months. They believe that this can be due to several factors. Some of them are listed below:
Rumours: The rumour mill for Windows Mobiles has taken a huge upward swing, all of which started with the 41MP Pure View smartphone that can be delivered by Nokia in a few months now. The news made headlines and continues to do so till date. Another rumour that could have made the developers think about developing for this OS can be the launch of cheaper Windows 8 tablets. Most forecasts have smaller tablets — those with 8- or 9-in. screens and smaller — stealing the majority mantel this year from larger form factors, like the iPad and Surface Pro.
Support: Microsoft recently upgraded its app developing platform for the developers allowing for an easier way to enrol as an app developer. Several restrictions have been removed and the app submission prices have also been reduced.
The number of apps submitted is not the only factor that decides the fate of an OS–Agreed, but it does matter. One could not have missed the special mention given to the number of apps available for Windows Phone during the recent Microsoft Build Conference. Microsoft emphasised on the number of apps submitted on the Windows Store to be around 100,ooo. While most analysts and experts have downplayed the numbers, suggesting that the quality and not the quantity of apps matter, one cannot disregard that it does hold importance for Microsoft.
