Every app store has its fair share of misleading apps that bring an overall bad experience for users. Both Apple and Google have experienced this in their app stores and it seems that Microsoft is also in the same problem. To help remove some of the misleading apps, Microsoft has made three new policy changes. These three changes cover the naming, categories and icons used on the apps.
For the name, Microsoft suggests that it should “clearly and accurately reflect the functionality of the app.” This will make it easier for users to know what the app deals with before downloading.
For Categories, Microsoft requires app to be categorized according to the app function and purpose. This actually makes sense as it means you will be able to find what you are looking for easily and quickly.
The Icons used should be unique and different from the ones used on other apps. This means that developers cannot use the icons of popular apps to confuse users into downloading their apps.
These policy changes affect both existing apps getting updates and the new ones added to the app store. Microsoft says that to implement these changes, they are cracking down on existing apps violating these rules. According to Microsoft, the reception by developers whose apps are violating these rules has been good overall. Most of them are happy to make the changes.
Microsoft has had to remove over 1500 apps that are violating these new rules. Most of the apps removed are from developers who refused to comply with the new policy changes. Microsoft is ready to refund users who had purchased apps that may have misleading titles and have been deleted from the app store.
“Every app store finds its own balance between app quality and choice, which in turn opens the door to people trying to game the system with misleading titles or descriptions. Our approach has long been to create and enforce strong but transparent policies to govern our certification and store experience. Earlier this year we heard loud and clear that people were finding it more difficult to find the apps they were searching for; often having to sort through lists of apps with confusing or misleading titles.”-Microsoft
