Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) Blocks Getting Paid Apps from Business and Education Stores

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) has informed users of the steps towards closing Microsoft Stores for Business and Education apps almost a year after it discussed the changes internally.

Microsoft will not be offering Business and Education stores apps

Already Microsoft Store Business customers received an update on March 11 informing them that all paid apps will not be available for acquisition as of April 14, 2021. According to the company’s notice, users with apps from Stores for Business and Education will continue using the apps and receiving updates. However, there will be no new apps accessible through the stores from April. After April 14, 2021, users who might require more applications or licenses will have to work with app publishers.

Similarly, Microsoft says that access to the Stores for Business and Education will need customers to have an Azure Active Directory account going forward. Also, anonymous browsing to the Stores will not be allowed.

Microsoft in the process of dismantling Microsoft Business and Education Stores

When asked if the announcement is part of the process to dismantle and close the Business and Educations Stores, a company spokesperson said there were no details to share for now. It could have to do with blocking in paid apps that Microsoft added to the Docs site. Originally Microsoft Store was called Windows Stores, and it is the company’s online app store built into Windows 10. However, in 2015, the company began testing several digital companion stores with the Microsoft Business for Stores and Education launched for those that wanted to have their apps available to users outside the Windows Store.

Microsoft for Business and Education allows admins to avail Store apps to users for volume acquisitions and distribution and offer a way for personalized line-of-business distribution only inside an organization. The company said that plans to convince developers to come up with Universal Windows Platforms apps that are updatable and distributable through Microsoft Stores failed to happen. As a result, the dedicated app store needs on Windows turned out to be less pressing.