Studio launches alternate commerce platform for Windows 8

A mobile application and software firm has developed an alterative commerce add-on for Windows 8 developers.

Swiss mobile application licensing and transaction management firm Lotaris has opened an early release programme for its Lotaris in-appCommerce for Windows 8 store.

The service offers app developers an alternative to the Windows Commerce Engine, providing a direct creator-user relationship and claims to maximise revenues with a range of app licensing and payment functions.

The service puts developers and ISVs in control of how they license and charge for Windows apps by removing the barriers to buying and giving end users the ability to license and pay for apps on any Windows 8 device – PC, tablet or smartphone – in familiar ways: subscription, usage-limited trials, time-limited trials, full-app purchase, and more.

“The recent success of Windows 8 has given new impetus to the OS war. Research shows that 10 per cent of Windows Phone gamers spend more than $25 a month in the Windows Store, compared to just 4 per cent on both iOS and Android. These ‘Whales,’ along with flexibility of the app licensing and payment business models enabled through the new Lotaris in-appCommerce service, offer great monetisation opportunities for Windows 8 app developers,” said Christophe Lienhard, Chief Operations Officer of Lotaris.

“Lotaris in-appCommerce is much more than an app store license tool or mobile commerce platform. It is an app license management system that spans platforms and ecosystems. It will provide developers with deep commerce functionality including a self-service portal, complete in-app purchasing, user-flows, in-app catalogue management, billing and payments, merchant of record, back-office and customer care tools, and reporting and analytics.”

During the early release programme, Windows 8 developers will help test the Lotaris in-appCommerce for Windows 8 service, while leveraging revenue-generating benefits including:
• 100 per cent of sales revenue – up to 5,000 transactions, during the first 90 days after sign-up; afterward, developers will benefit from the service as a lower-cost alternative to the app payments structure of the Windows Store; 9.85 per cent (vs 30 per cent) revenue share and with a transaction fee of 0.35 USD
• Easy set-up and migration – from the Windows Store API to the Lotaris API, and vice versa
• Dynamic licensing – enabling mobile-centric business models and the ability to work with multiple channels, payments and platforms
• Customer intelligence and CRM – through reporting and analytics, over time
• In-app licensing – for both Windows 7 and 8, on a single commerce platform

The three-month programme began on Wednesday. Windows 8 developers can sign up to request the SDK from the Lotaris self-service portal, which offers simple activation and live support.

Find out more at Lotaris.