Windows Store now open to all developers in 120 markets. Read the Windows Store blog post for more detail.

All eligible MSDN subscribers receive a free, one-year Windows Store developer account as part of their MSDN benefits. (Eligible subscriptions include Visual Studio Professional, Test Professional, Premium, Ultimate, and BizSpark.) We have a program for students—DreamSpark—that similarly waives the subscription fee. And we have an offer for businesses in our BizSpark program, as well.

To sign up, just go to the Windows Store Dashboard on the Windows Dev Center. For MSDN subscribers, get the promotion code first from your MSDN benefits web page and start the registration process from there. You’ll use the promotion code on the payment screen so that the total amount due is zero. Below are a few simple steps to follow.

• Log in using the Windows Live ID that you want to link to your Windows Store developer account. Use the same Windows Live ID that you used for your Microsoft Developer Services account if you want to link them. (You may be asked to enter security code you’ll receive from your mobile device.)
• Pick whether you want to create an individual or a company account. If you link to your Microsoft Developer Services account, your Windows Store developer account will be the same type.
• Tell us about you. If you link to your Microsoft Developer Services account, we'll copy that info to your Windows Store developer account.
• Review the terms of use and your account details.
• Have your credit card ready.

Note that if you are a registered Windows Phone developer, you have an option to combine your Windows Phone developer account with the Windows Store account, as shown below.

Option #1: Use this Microsoft Developer Services account

This option links your Microsoft Developer Services account to your Windows Store developer account. After you link them, changes you make to the account info of one will appear in the other. We will use the info from your Microsoft Developer Services account, which is shown on this page, to create your Windows Store developer account.

Link these two accounts so their account info will be the same. Any changes you make on the next screen will also be made to your other developer account. Note that you can't change the country/region or the account type. You can always change your publisher name later. If you do, remember that we'll need to re-verify your account.

Option #2: Start over

Use a different Microsoft account to create a new Windows Store developer account. Use this option if you want to keep your accounts separate. Learn more

Use a different Microsoft account to create a new Windows Store developer account. You'll need to select a new publisher name. This name must be different from the publisher of your existing account.

Windows Store Developer Benefits

As a Windows Store developer, you can enjoy the benefits below.

• Promote and distribute your apps around the world.
• Offer trial versions to build excitement.
• Make money by selling your apps and letting your customers make in-app purchases.
• Join the vibrant Windows Store developer community.
• Track your sales and customer feedback in the dashboard.

For more info on App Developer Agreement, read here.