The Twin Cities iPhone Developers Meetup has Teamed up with Microsoft!

• Develop a Windows 8 app in 30 days

That’s right.  You read the headline correctly.  The iPhone Developers Meetup is working with Microsoft in an effort to give our members the greatest opportunity to get their applications into the most marketplaces. We are partnering with Microsoft to give you the tools and resources you need to get your iOS applications into the Windows Store.

If you don’t have time to read the whole email now, remember this:

1. Access to software and hardware, including a Microsoft Surface device and Windows Phone device to test your applications on
2. Information on how to port iOS applications or start a new application from scratch
3. Access to the Microsoft development experts and the Twin Cities’ Microsoft Technology Center developer labs

This program is a partnership between the Twin Cities’ iPhone Developers Meetup and Microsoft to provide resources so our members can port or create applications for the Windows Store or the Windows Phone Store.  Between now and June 30^th, members will have access to the developer kit, Microsoft developer experts and programs, and the Microsoft Technology Center’s developer labs.

The developer kit contains a Microsoft Surface device, HTC 8x Windows Phone, Windows 8 Pro evaluation bits, and a USB drive with resources, install guides, etc. for running a Microsoft development environment on a Mac.  You can contact John Hibscher (john_hibscher at yahoo.com) to schedule use of the kit for up to five days at a time.  If our group can get 15 or more applications into the Windows Store by June 30th, we will be able to keep the kit and will raffle off the Microsoft Surface, the HTC 8x, and a copy of Windows 8 Pro to the members that get applications submitted and approved. 

The Microsoft Technology Center is one of the premier facilities for Microsoft development.  At the MTC, you will be able to schedule time in one of the Windows 8 developer labs where you can use PCs that are state-of-the-art for doing Windows development.  In addition, Microsoft development experts will be on hand to answer any of your questions while you are there.  The MTC developer labs are a great place to get an app started or push it that last mile to completion.

In addition to the resources that are in the kit, here are some additional links to help get you started.

1. Windows 8 Resources for iOS developers - http://aka.ms/iOSTwinCities
2. Port iOS Apps Video - http://aka.ms/videoTwinCities
3. Windows 8 Developer Site – http://dev.windows.com
4. Window Phone Developer Site – http://dev.windowsphone.com
5. GenerationApp Site – http://aka.ms/30Days
6. Games on Windows - http://aka.ms/gamesTwinCities

You can also contact our local Microsoft Developer representative, Adam Grocholski.   You can reach Adam via email (adgroc at microsoft.com), on Twitter (@codel8r) of find him around the Twin Cities when he is holding Office Hours (Adam's Office Hours)

With over 70M Windows 8 licenses in the marketplace, the Windows Store is growing rapidly but there are still opportunities to be a first mover.  The Windows Store is open to app builders in 120 markets and apps are sold in more than 200 markets.   The Store support paid, free and trial applications, in-app purchasing, advertising, and more.  Revenue sharing on applications is 70/30 for the first $25K, and then goes up to 80/20 once you have sold more than $25K.  You are also free to use your own advertising and/or in-app purchasing solution.  Some developers are already earning over $20K / month – you could be next!

Thanks and good luck coding!