Getting an Account at the Windows Store

Before getting an account for the app store, you need to understand some of the options you will be offered and a few of the choices you will be making.

Microsoft Account is Required

You will need a Microsoft account, which used to be known as a Windows Live ID. You probably have one already; it's an email address plus a special password you gave to Microsoft. If you use a Microsoft email provider, such as Hotmail (hotmail.com), Windows Live (live.com), or Outlook.com, then that email+password will serve as a Microsoft account. If you have multiple Microsoft accounts, ensure that you have logged into the one you want to use before starting the process of acquiring an app store account.

Windows Store Account Types

There are two account types in the Windows Store: Individual and Company. Both require a registration fee, though Microsoft is making codes available through various channels to reduce or eliminate the fee.

As of this writing, Individual accounts are available only to those testing the app store, and require a registration code straight from Microsoft. However, it is expected that these accounts will be generally available once Windows 8 goes into general release.

Company accounts require additional verification. Two email addresses are needed, and a verification process will be performed involving both of them. Both email addresses can be yours, or the second email address can be a different person in your organization.

Company accounts have some extra features and cost a bit more for the registration fee. Company accounts can submit Windows 7 style desktop applications as well as Windows 8 style apps. Two important additional features for Windows 8 style apps deployed via Company accounts are:

For your own purposes when learning about Windows 8 apps and investigating the Windows Store, an Individual account should be sufficient. If you are confident that you will be selling apps through the Windows Store, or if you expect to use the account to deploy apps for a business, the small additional cost for a Company account is probably a good investment.

Steps to Obtain an Account

The steps to obtaining an account at the Windows Store can vary somewhat, but the following steps are typical.

Step 1 — Account Registration

To start the process of getting an account, you can access a Visual Studio 2012 menu option: Project ⇒ Store ⇒ Open Developer Account. You can also start the process through a web browser, using the starting URL of https://appdev.microsoft.com/StorePortals. If you are not logged in to a Microsoft account, the first step will be to do so.

As mentioned earlier, make sure you log in with the email address you want to be associated with the app store account. If you log in with one email address and then later enter a different email address in the screen in Step 3, you'll just have to start over.

Microsoft has made some recent changes in the switch from the Windows Live ID system, and you may be requested to provide additional validation of your Microsoft account via a number that is emailed to you. This is a one-time process; if you've already done it, you will not need to do it again.

Step 2 — Configure Account Type

The first screen in the process of registering an account looks like Figure 20.1.

Figure 20.1 Choosing the account type to set up a Windows Store account

The only choices you make at this point are the country or region in which your business is located, and the type of account you want. Company accounts require some extra information, so the account type is needed before the next steps.

As discussed previously, when you are first starting out and just learning how the app store works, you might want an Individual account. It's somewhat simpler to acquire. However, when you get ready to actually sell apps or distribute apps for a company, you'll probably want a Company account. That requires additional verification and has an associated account for the money that comes in for the app.

Step 3 — Enter Demographic Information and Publisher Name

In this step, you'll put in your demographic information—name, address, etc. The email address you use in this step should be the same email with which you logged into your Microsoft account.

You also need to supply a “Publisher display name” as the last item on the page. This area of the screen is shown in Figure 20.2. Naturally, this is the name the Windows Store will display as the publisher of the app.

Figure 20.2 Specifying the Publisher display name for a Windows Store account

The Publisher display name must be unique. If you are getting a Company account for your organization, and you know this will be the main account to deploy your organization's apps, you should use your organization's name. If you work for a large organization, you may want to check with any appropriate parties before using the name.

If you are creating an Individual account, or a Company account for yourself or some small entity, choose a name you have control over and which you don't need any special permission to use. If you have a personal corporation, such as an LLC, that name would be a good choice. The screen will let you check the availability of your chosen name, and you must enter a unique name before you proceed.

Step 4 — Accept Application Developer Agreement

Given the complexity of what happens in the Windows Store, including transfer of money, it's no surprise that a detailed agreement is required to get a Windows Store account. In this step, you will indicate that you have read and accept the agreement.

Read it first—don't just treat it as just another EULA. It's a binding legal agreement that designates the terms of selling and supporting your application, and such aspects as what to do if someone else is infringing on your app. There are a number of constraints in it to be aware of, particularly the Certification Requirements, which can be seen at http://bit.ly/Win8CertRequirements. The section below on “Checking to See if an App Meets Requirements” discusses some of the more important aspects of certification for Windows 8.

Step 5 — Supply a Registration Code and/or Pay a Registration Fee

The next step is where you commit to getting the account and, if necessary, paying a fee for it. As of the time this is written, Individual accounts have a list price of $49US, and Company accounts have a list price of $99US. However, the page also allows you to enter a registration code, which may reduce or eliminate the fee.

For developers acquiring an Individual account, Microsoft has various mechanisms for distributing registration codes. These will likely vary over time, so this chapter will not detail the precise mechanisms in place at the moment.

Step 6 — Confirm Identity

The procedure for confirming identity varies depending on the type of account. Company accounts require more confirmation. You will need to carry out the instructions on the registration screens for your particular case. Once this step is done, you should have an active account at the app store.