WP7 Marketplace Tip #4: Include Contact info in your next app update

Summary

Make sure that you include the app name, version and technical support contact info within your app (or your next update)

The Fine Print

Section 5.6 says:

An application must include the application name, version information, and technical support contact information that are easily discoverable. 

But my app was improved without this?

This was a late introduction into the certification guide (a couple of weeks before launch) so it hasn't been enforced up till now. That said, it's now been long enough since release for everyone to be able to have time to add the information so expect to see apps failing if you forget to include this information.

How do I do this?

Well, that's the easy part, simply include an About page or Contact Us page. For contact you can send them to a forum link:

 WebBrowserTask browser = new WebBrowserTask();
browser.URL = "https://somepublisher/forum";
browser.Show();

Or an email address:

 EmailComposeTask emailComposeTask = new EmailComposeTask();
emailComposeTask.To = "Publisher <feedback@publisher.com>";
emailComposeTask.Subject = "Feedback About [Some App]";
emailComposeTask.Body = "";
emailComposeTask.Show();

When using tasks don't forget to wrap it in a try/catch statement.

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 11, 2011
  Hi On top of my other error, screenshot issue, in the 6th time test result fail report, I got this as a new error, which was never raised as an issue till today. I'm not sure what else will come in the next time testing.

• Anonymous
  January 11, 2011
  Yeah, it's only just now being enforced, but to be honest - it's always been in the certification guide, so not really a big surprise. It's also not a big issue, since it's easy to fix :)

• Oren

• Anonymous
  January 11, 2011
  But, it's really frustating for a new issue popup after 2 months of trying to get that 1 screenshot issue resolved. pls help me out. it's not nice to get new new laws being enforced now and then. I agree it might've been there in the guide, but, we're not spending dedicated time to develop the apps. it's all in our spare time. i've been proposing Silverlight right and left for my clients in all our .net / java projects, now, when we try to push a small app (based on wazup sample), spending time to resolve 1 single issue (screenshot issue) is really annoying. honestly, i myself have Sm Focus, I never look at the screenshots for a FREE app or in my iPhone Free apps. Who care's it's a Free app. If it works keep it else delete it. EOD, it should work for us as a user. pls help me to get my app certified.

• Anonymous
  January 11, 2011
  I'm still waiting for your email :)

• Oren