Originally Posted by
jalb I've always viewed it as Microsoft wanting to support devs more. Didn't they initially refuse to allow $.99 apps? Maybe I am misremembering.
That was the theory. Unfortunately, it doesn't work as well when you have a smaller market. A 99p app on iOS might make less per sale, but you have such a big potential market overall you can make far, far more.
Devs know it, which is why they go with where they can make the most more ofte than not, and why marketplace lag is so hard to catch up. You need the customer base to make people develop apps, but you need apps to grow the customer base. Vicious cycle.
I think MS could do worse to subsidise a few key apps and games though to encourage uptake. And still not having skype now that they own skype is flat-out bizarre.