由于Windows Phone 7的应用数量正不断增长，这一平台的开发商也开始感受到了竞争压力，发现他们的应用越来越难以获得足够的曝光率。

不过，微软最近已联系了开发商并提出了自己的建议，决定让Windows Phone Marketplace在4月、5月和6月期间，向为那些有效推广了WP7平台功能的开发商提供奖励。

windows-phone-marketplace

微软在致开发商的一封邮件中表示，“在未来三个月，我们将为您提供机会，让您展示自己的应用最出色的一面，以及说明它为何应该得到Marketplace黄金展位的理由。如果您的行动足以说服我们，那么我们就会尽快让它登上有利的销售展位。我们无法保证产品将放置于哪个具体的展位，也不会事先通知您的应用是否获得推荐，但我们会认真审核您提交申请的每一款应用。“

游戏邦获悉，被微软选中的应用将通过三个广告展位中的一者获得推荐。

其中之一是一目了然的Marketplace背景，它的壁纸将以获得推荐的应用为主题；还有一个是出现在3至6个其他应用产品之间的推荐图标；最后一个就是该应用商店推荐榜单中的一个席位。

但微软也对这些提交申请的应用设置了一些门槛，要求只有在每月15日前发布的新产品，或者原版应用的明显更新版本，才能获得申请资格。

除此之外，开发商还得通过微软网站联系该项目的负责人，提交关于应用所支持的操作系统，以及它为何能够取悦用户等细节内容。

据微软所称，只能那些最有助于推广WP7用户界面，充分结合了该平台功能的应用，才有可能是最终胜出者。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，转载请注明来源：游戏邦）

Microsoft offers developers free promo slots on Windows Phone Marketplace

As the apps on Windows Phone 7 begin to mount up, so developers are finding it harder to afford their apps space on what’s fast becoming a crowded marketplace.

Microsoft, however, has contacted studios to propose a deal.

Over the course of April, May and June, the company is to offer free promo slots on the Windows Phone Marketplace apps, rewarding studios that best promote the capabilities of the platform.

Spring cleaning

“For the next three months, we are going to give you a chance to let us know that you think your app is great and that you think it is deserving of prime placement in the Marketplace,” Microsoft said in the email, dubbing the move the ‘spring cleaning project’.

“Once you let us know you think your published app is great, we’ll expedite review of it for a merchandising placement.

“Placements are not guaranteed, and we won’t be able to tell you ahead of time if your app will or will not be featured; but we will review every published app you tell us about.”

Apps chosen will promoted via one of three spots.

Up for grabs is the panoramic push, which covers the entire background of the Marketplace with a wallpaper from the app in question, a featured icon that will sit in amongst three to six other apps, and a spot in the store’s features list.

Rules of the game

There are, however, rules aplenty. Microsoft asks that all apps be published by the 15th of each month, and must either be a new release, or a substantial update to an existing title.

Studios also needs to contact Microsoft via wp7springclean [at] microsoft [dot] com with details of what parts of the OS the app supports, and why the title will “delight users”.

Microsoft claims the winning apps will be those that best promote Windows Phone 7′s UI, as well as combining community features with the app’s functionality.（source:pocketgamer）