Metro Style Apps provided as a SaaS

Question

Hi

We are considering developing a metro style enterprise business application, the application is going to be delivered directly to the clients as a SaaS but not through the window store and we are wondering if there's going to be any charges from MS, and how much? if there are any charges. 

Answer 1

Hi kamaas,

The following blog would be a good place to start with this question. please take a look at the site on Managing Client Access to the Windows Store for enterprises. If you are deploying the app in a domain environment then you may also be interested in the section onUsing Group Policy to Control the Store in Enterprise environments. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hi Mark,

Thanks the blog was really helpful, basically we are a new start up that is about to launch a crm application but we want to deploy it as a SaaS and we are considering a total redesign of the UI thereof the interest in Metro. What we are wondering is if we as an enterprise provide a SaaS application based on Metro via web browser to our clients on monthly subscription, is microsoft going to charge us for using the Metro app language?

Answer 3

Hello Kamaas,

If you are hosting the application, you have the option of offering it directly through your website as a desktop app, just as you would with previous versions of Windows. However, if you are offering a Metro style app, it will launch inside the Metro UI and not in the desktop environment. If you offer a Metro style app, it will need to go through the certification process and in order to have it certified, you will need a registered developer account. Have a look at the page about developing Metro style apps for Windows 8.

Answer 4

Thanks Jesse i have already downloaded the pre-release and registered as a developer, i have looked every where to try and find an answer. What i would like to know is, is it possible to use a metro style application directly from the web browser instead of having it installed on the client.

What we want to do is to take advantage of the metro style UI on a SaaS application that the customers can access through the web browser regardless of the win version that they are using, is this possible? or have i misunderstood the whole Metro concept?

Answer 5

Hi Kamass,

There is no way to access an app through the browser.  This functionality will work  for  Desktop apps.  As Jessie mentioned the Metro Style app will launch inside the Metro UI. 

Thanks-

Answer 6

Thanks Joe,

I just needed to be extra sure about that.