Can Microsoft help developers break the 99¢ app price ceiling?

When it comes to price, Apple's App Store is a race to the bottom. But Microsoft wants app developers to ask for a fair price for their apps.

Here's what Loke Uei of Microsoft's Mobile Developer Experience Team had to say:

"It's up to you play your pricing, but we would definitely want to promote that you make more money selling applications than selling your application in a dollar store."

For Apple, the App Store is a commodity that they can promote alongside the iPhone and iPod touch. Buying an iPhone or iPod touch gives the customer access to countless free and cheap apps. App Store developers are working as part of Apple's marketing machine.

Microsoft wants to change that. But the question is can Microsoft promote, and then sell, "premium priced" apps? Sure, it's a great trick to puff up developers with the idea that they can ask $5 or $10 for an app, but asking that and getting that are two entirely different things.

I think that if Microsoft's app store is going to be able to pull in premium prices for apps, it has to work with developers to get things right. For example, trial versions, easy payment system and a clear refund policy.

What do you think Microsoft could do to make its app store better than Apple's?