Microsoft has some news. Putting together all app purchases – including in-app ones – the Windows Phone platform has crossed 9 million transactions per day. The company has also announced a change in policy for developers who no longer need to wait till Microsoft receives app sales proceeds from carriers. In a blog post, Microsoft has referred to a Kantar report according to which 1 in 10 smartphone sales in Britain, France, Germany and Mexico is of a Windows Phone. On the back of this statistic, the company has announced that it is now seeing 9 million transactions a day being made on the platform.
Most importantly, Microsoft has made a change in the way developers would receive payments from the company. Earlier, Microsoft would wait for carriers to forward sales proceedings to it before releasing it to the developers. On an average, this would cause a delay of 120 days or more for paid transactions made using the carrier billing payment instrument. Now all transactions via carriers will become eligible for payout after 30 days.This is, of course, an important change for Microsoft even as the company continues to add carrier billing connections. It says that on an average, Windows Phone developers are making three times more revenue per active user in markets where carrier billing is offered. The numbers increase to six times more revenue in emerging markets where credit card usage is more limited. So far, this feature has been made available in 26 markets but Microsoft is already looking at trying to increase these numbers. The company also noted in the blog that its ad department has partnered with third-party networks to bring additional advertisements to Windows Phone. Microsoft expects to see a small increase in fill rate in October. “Displaying ads that users find relevant contributes to the success of the entire ecosystem. Starting later this month, Microsoft Advertising will make a unique device ID available to third-party networks on the Windows Phone platform, an ID that’s not linked to the user or to any personally identifiable information,” the blog read. This ID ensures that users only see relevant ads. Of course, the company lets users opt out of targeted advertising on their phones. All you need to do if you wish to opt out is head on to choice.microsoft.com and follow the instructions. Once done, Microsoft Advertising will not serve targeted ads and the device ID will not be shared with third-party ad networks.These updates are being rolled out way in advance for the busy holiday season of November and December. Microsoft says that it sees more than a 50 percent increase in app downloads and purchases during this season and is hence making sure new norms are in place when the rush starts.
Holiday season changes coming
Most importantly, Microsoft has made a change in the way developers would receive payments from the company. Earlier, Microsoft would wait for carriers to forward sales proceedings to it before releasing it to the developers. On an average, this would cause a delay of 120 days or more for paid transactions made using the carrier billing payment instrument. Now all transactions via carriers will become eligible for payout after 30 days.This is, of course, an important change for Microsoft even as the company continues to add carrier billing connections. It says that on an average, Windows Phone developers are making three times more revenue per active user in markets where carrier billing is offered. The numbers increase to six times more revenue in emerging markets where credit card usage is more limited. So far, this feature has been made available in 26 markets but Microsoft is already looking at trying to increase these numbers. The company also noted in the blog that its ad department has partnered with third-party networks to bring additional advertisements to Windows Phone. Microsoft expects to see a small increase in fill rate in October. “Displaying ads that users find relevant contributes to the success of the entire ecosystem. Starting later this month, Microsoft Advertising will make a unique device ID available to third-party networks on the Windows Phone platform, an ID that’s not linked to the user or to any personally identifiable information,” the blog read. This ID ensures that users only see relevant ads. Of course, the company lets users opt out of targeted advertising on their phones. All you need to do if you wish to opt out is head on to choice.microsoft.com and follow the instructions. Once done, Microsoft Advertising will not serve targeted ads and the device ID will not be shared with third-party ad networks.These updates are being rolled out way in advance for the busy holiday season of November and December. Microsoft says that it sees more than a 50 percent increase in app downloads and purchases during this season and is hence making sure new norms are in place when the rush starts.
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