Appendix C. AppHub and Marketplace
AppHub and Marketplace are where you go to submit and sell games. Once you’ve built and tested your Windows Phone application, you want to get your application into the hands of users and start earning some money. The AppHub is where you go to submit your application to the Marketplace. The Marketplace is the only place a user can install your application.
The Marketplace was built to provide Windows Phone users with a single source for downloading and purchasing applications. Microsoft wanted to make it easy for developers to connect with users, get paid for their applications, and license their applications. Microsoft also wanted Windows Phone users to feel safe and secure, knowing that the applications they download have been tested and are free of malware.
The steps necessary for publishing an application are register, build, and submit. Once submitted, Microsoft will put the application through a series of certification tests. If your application doesn’t pass certification, it won’t be made available to Windows Phone users. Fortunately, the Windows Phone developer tools come with a helpful tool that walks you through automated and manual certification tests. You can track the certification status in your AppHub Dashboard.