Microsoft revokes Windows Phone app that undermined developers’ paychecks

In doing this task, there'south the piece of cake news – apps, device reviews, leaks – and and then there's the hard news, like criticizing Microsoft, leaking too much or talking about illegal apps. Today's story falls into the latter category, but it's more than most the aftermath.

Long story short, a developer named Al Gihuni released a gratis app called 'Free Market place'. The app did something unique: it allowed yous to find an app listed in a dissimilar region, perhaps at a lower price. The idea here is that some developers cost their apps differently based on the market, or sometimes they run regional sales. 'Free Market' though took reward of that past letting users find those price differences with a few clicks and the app tagline – "Download paid apps for free!" – was quite inflammatory.

Developers were not pleased, to say the least.

We opted not to embrace the app due to the somewhat controversial nature of the subject matter. Windows Telephone already has enough issues in trying to convince developers to invest their time to make apps. And forget their time, it'south really virtually coin, as it's quite difficult to make a buck on such a small – but growing – ecosystem.

Still, this is certainly a grey area app as giving consumers the power to search for cheaper prices does have a nice ring to it. Getting lower prices is more than of an issue for emerging markets, where many people don't accept credit cards to brand Store purchases. That means they can never buy an app, then they often rely on those temporary sales and discounts.

Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, Microsoft has evidently revoked the app from people's phones. That's a rare motion – 1 of concluding resorts – reserved for apps that are malicious or are themselves pirated software.

For example, way back in Dec 2022, nosotros reported to Microsoft a popular paid navigation app had been re-uploaded every bit a gratuitous app to the Store. Sure, Microsoft could just remove the app from the Store, simply they took the extra step of revoking it from those who had already downloaded it, essentially mitigating any damage to the original developer.

In fairness, Gihuni did delist the app before Microsoft was able to do so. We asked him to comment on that issue and how it transpired:

"I don't remember information technology jeopardized the security or functionality of Windows Phone still. Developers take made their apps free in some markets by their choice, and users accept always been changing their regions for these offers. My app was merely a search tool, zero more.

It got popular in a few hours and got thousands of users, mostly from Red china and South America. I myself also put my other apps in the list. It was very useful, but developers didn't like it.

I unpublished information technology before Microsoft revoked it, considering of the negative reactions of developers…A good human relationship between devs and users was important…"

For what it'due south worth, Al Gihuni's 'Gratuitous Marketplace' was non malicious to the user, just it was damaging to developers looking to make money. It also looked bad for Microsoft. Earlier, Gihuni actually helped to place a Store bug that could permit an app to bypass privacy permissions. Microsoft eventually patched that issues after we had some back aqueduct discussions with them. We would non describe him equally malevolent, just some other programmer trying to make a name for himself. In that sense, we're not getting out the pitchforks, as we remember sometimes devs test the waters and learn from their mistakes. And at least for now, Microsoft has put their pes down.

What do you folks think? Should apps like that exist immune on the Store?

Thanks, Fadil R., for the screenshot

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