Microsoft preps unified Windows app store, says sources

Microsoft officials have been cagey about exactly when and whether the company would have a single app store for its Windows and Windows Phone devices.

But it sounds like that scenario is closer than many actually believed.

As Tom Warren reported on The Verge, Microsoft demonstrated a single app store for Windows and Windows Phone during its annual company meeting in Seattle on September 26. I've heard the same from my own sources.

I've heard a few additional details about what was supposedly shown Thursday from my sources.

The new unified store is supposedly going to be part of the next version of Windows, which I believe could be Windows 8.1 with the Spring 2014 GDR update, according to one of my contacts. (Another contact said no timing was shared as to when this will happen.) I'm not clear if Microsoft also demonstrated or outlined a plan to make that store the same one that is featured on Xbox One, some time post launch of that console this November.

I'm also hearing Windows Azure is likely playing a role in this scenario. I'm thinking that this might have to do with cloud compilation of applications. This would involve Microsoft compiling developers' applications for them, like they did with Windows Phone during the move from Windows Phone 7 to Windows Phone 8 to help with portability and performance.

The other Azure possibility: the back-end code for certain apps runs on Windows Azure and is streamed to phones and PCs. That would give users the impression that Halo 4 really is running natively on their Windows Phone or Windows RT tablet.

None of this is too surprising -- beyond the possible timing. Microsoft execs have been hinting, if not outright claiming, that in the future there will be "One Windows" and one Windows API (meaning WinRT, I would assume). At the company's Financial Analyst Meeting last week, Executive Vice President Terry Myerson reiterated that vision, noting "We should have one set of developer APIs on all of our devices. And all of the apps we bring to end users should be available on all of our devices."

In addition to making developers happy, a single store that included both Windows 8 Metro-Style and Windows Phone 8 apps would definitely help with the never-ending complaints about shortages of Windows 8 and Windows Phone apps.

I've asked Microsoft if the company has any comment on claims they've shown off the common store Thursday. A spokesperson said the company had no comment.

This story originally appeared as "Microsoft demos single app store at company meeting: Source" on ZDNet.