All Windows Phone Apps Now Published in Windows 10 Desktop Store!

[Ethan Alvaree]

As of moments ago, the entire catalog of Windows Phone apps have appeared in the Windows 10 Desktop store. It appears that the two Windows Stores are finally beginning to merge into Microsoft's "One Store" as promised.

Unfortunately, most of the social apps (Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Messenger, Groupme, Skype Qik, Vine, Uber, Paypal, etc.) and games (Angry Birds original, Rio & Epic, Lara Croft Relic Run, Sonic CD, etc.) notify you that "This app will not work on your device" if you try to install it on your PC. Nonetheless, it's nice to see many of the popular phone apps entering the store, and hopefully soon developers will enable these apps to run on the desktop, as well.

 

[Ethan Alvaree]

Update: Winbeta just posted an article on it:

Microsoft merges Windows PC and Windows mobile app stores

Personally, I think this is a very smart move from Microsoft.

• It shows users that the apps they want DO exist on the Windows platform, but that they're (currently) not universal.
  
• Moreover, the store page gives the user a link to contact the developer so they can ask them "why isn't your app compatible on my computer"?

This could have the effect of developers of popular Windows Phone apps getting requests from some of the 110+ million Windows 10 desktop users for their apps to work on the PC, putting pressure on them to make their apps universal.

 

[HeyCori]

It will be interesting to see what affects this has on app downloads and development.

 

[Ethan Alvaree]

Update: As of this morning, it seems as though all of the mobile apps have been pulled from the Windows 10 desktop store. No word as to why the change occurred or when the stores will be merged again. Sad to see the stores once again divided.

 

[skstrials]

Not all windows mobile apps will make "sense" to have on a Windows PC platform.

For example, what are you going to do with a run tracking app on a Windows desktop? At least, it will be a good workout.

Posted via the Windows Central App for BlackBerry

 

[jhoff80]

Honestly, it's probably just a store bug. The Store is only supposed to give you results that work on the device you're using. If that filter temporarily wasn't working properly, this would be the end result.