Windows Mobile developers upset with Microsoft over payments

Ars Technica reports some Windows Mobile Developers are not getting paid for apps sold in the Windows Mobile Marketplace. Certain developers say they are owed major amounts of money that Microsoft has not yet paid out to them. Some developers even state they have been without a check since the mobile marketplace launched last October.

Ars attempted to contact Microsoft earlier this week, only to be told Microsoft released an official statement on their own discussion forums. Mihir Rao, Windows Marketplace for Mobile Product Manager, said that in order for developers to be paid, a minimum amount of $200 must be met. Rao also stated that, “In some situations where we are not able to pay, the payout amount remains in the developer’s balance sheet for a future payment.”

The Dashboard Payout Status may be the reason why many are so upset. Developers can fall into three categories regarding payment status. These categories, “Not eligible for revenue payout”, “Pending eligibility for revenue payout”, or “Eligible for revenue payout” seem to be causing confusion.  In some situations, where developers fall under the “Not eligible for revenue payout”, the developer must first contact Microsoft over a payment issue before getting a check. Others who even fall under the “Eligible for revenue payout” status are also not getting paid. In addition, it appears that developers who have worked with Microsoft to rectify issues regarding payment, to the point where their status has been set to eligible again, are still not getting paid months later.

Rao has now followed up to his original statement saying, “I see my explanation of the ‘Eligible for revenue payout’ status has raised more questions than it has answered. I am going to get some more details on this particular dashboard status to provide further clarification.”

It seems Microsoft might have to revaluate or make clearer how these status categories effect payments. With Windows Mobile 7 coming up, developers are closely watching the situation. Many may be put off to working with Windows Mobile if these issues aren’t corrected.