Windows Marketplace

Not to be confused with Windows Store or Windows Phone Store.
Windows Marketplace

Screenshot of the Windows Marketplace Homepage.

Windows Marketplace,[1] was a Microsoft platform for the delivery of software electronically that was secured by use of Windows Live ID. The digital locker platform was composed of four major components:

  1. Windows Marketplace catalog
  2. Multi merchant download cart
  3. Digital Locker Assistant (a client side application that facilitates the download of purchased applications)
  4. Digital Locker

For consumers, the digital locker and Windows Marketplace could be used for purchasing and downloading third party software titles compatible with Microsoft Windows, and then using that purchased software on any computer the software license allows. For software developers, the digital locker and Windows Marketplace could be a cost-effective channel for the distribution of their software titles.

A Windows Vista Ultimate Extra, called Secure Online Key Backup allowed backing up EFS recovery certificates, as well as the BitLocker recovery password in the Digital Locker.[2] Windows Marketplace was only available for residents of the USA and some other countries.

Launch

Windows Marketplace was announced on July 12, 2004;[3] and launched on October 12, 2004.[4] It provided over 93,000 products split between hardware, boxed software, and downloadable software. About 20,000 downloads were available and 5,000 were free.[5] The site was designed to allow product comparison, purchase and discussion from one central location. Research had shown the average customer used over 20 sites when making purchases and Marketplace was an attempt to centralize that.[5] An emphasis was placed on software designed to Microsoft's API requirements and user experience recommendations with certified software carrying the Designed-for-Windows logo surpassing 10,000 at store launch.[5] CNET was a major initial partner, supplying Microsoft with the majority of the pricing and description information

Redesign

The site was redesigned on August 28, 2006.[6] During the redesign a greater emphasis was placed on downloadable software instead of boxed software and hardware. In less than two years since the original launch Microsoft tripled the software purchasable by download to 60,000 and expanded all products offered to over 150,000.[6] The Digital Locker initiative also attempted to unify all software licenses into a central location tied to a single Windows Live ID. This version of the site was Microsoft's first offering of a full operating system, Windows Vista as a downloadable purchase; in addition to the first for Microsoft Office.[7]

Expansion To Mobile

On February 16, 2009 at the Mobile World Congress, Microsoft announced Windows Marketplace for Mobile which deployed a similar concept to Windows Mobile devices. Marketplace for Mobile was shut down on May 22, 2012.

A year after Microsoft introduced Windows Marketplace for Mobile, they announced their next generation mobile platform named Windows Phone. With Windows Phone, Microsoft completely revamped their mobile efforts and the Marketplace, introducing Windows Phone Marketplace which would later become Windows Phone Store.

Discontinuation

On November 14, 2008, Microsoft announced that the Digital Locker will be shut down in 2009. Windows Marketplace will be drastically scaled back and people wishing to buy any Microsoft product will now have to go to the Microsoft Store, which will sell all items previously sold at Windows Marketplace.

Successor - Windows Store

On September 13, 2011 in the //Build/ conference, Microsoft announced a new software distribution platform for Windows, called the Windows Store.[8] The Windows Store would be supported on Windows 8 and higher, and it would list and distribute WinRT apps and Windows desktop apps. The Windows Store would interface with the user through a WinRT client for Windows that would help users find, download, and/or buy Windows applications. The user could also view the listing of apps through a web browser.[9]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Windows Vista Secure Online Key Backup release information
  3. ↑ "Microsoft Introduces Windows Marketplace, Enabling Customers to Discover A World of Products That Work With Windows". Microsoft. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Windows Marketplace Opens for Business; Consumers Can Easily Discover A World of Products That Work With Windows". Microsoft. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Q&A: Windows Marketplace Provides Consumers with Broad Product Choice and Shopping Ease". Microsoft. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Microsoft Integrates Electronic Software Distribution Into Updated Windows Marketplace". Microsoft. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Microsoft Unveils New Ways for Consumers to Get Windows Vista". Microsoft. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  8. ↑ //Build/ Keynote #1
  9. ↑ Previewing the Windows Store
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