Windows Phone App Hub Makes the Naughty List
I am not an idiot.
For the past 4 working days, I have been trying unsuccessfully to join a Microsoft Windows Phone program that will help with developing and publishing applications for Windows Phone 7.
These two facts seem at odds with one another, do they not? After all, how could anyone except an idiot fail at placing a simple $99 order at a Microsoft owned and operated Web site?
Never-the-less, these two facts are not at odds with one another. It is in fact true that I am not an idiot (I hope you’ll agree) and that for 4 days now, I’ve been unable to place a simple order.
My first error occurred after entering my contact information. The resulting page simply said that there was a problem, but didn’t provide any clues as to what the problem was. After trying it from two different browsers in two different operating systems, and receiving the same results, I concluded that I might need some help. I painstakingly identified the Web site address, the data, and the results, and sent the information to Microsoft’s registration help desk.
Fortunately, Microsoft was “quick” to respond, and two days later, I received a form letter that didn’t address my problem.
It did, however, prompt a new thought. So, today, I created a new Windows Live ID and attempted to make the purchase with this ID. Eureka! It worked, if by “worked”, you mean got to the next step of the registration process.
This next step required me to create an XBox “Gamer Tag” to use with my Windows Live ID. Since I’m an imaginative fellow, I figured I could come up with something. I tried:
- OneLeggedMan
- TheOneLeggedMan
- tolm
- HotDogsDontWearSunglasses
- HotDogsWearSunglasses
- dskldfldjdslskdfjdljsflkdsldfjslkfjsdlfjaldjalkdj
Strangely, none of these tags were available. Obviously, I wasn’t as imaginative as I thought.
t finally tried entering my publisher name, and, eureka again, it worked, if by “worked”, you mean got to the next step of the registration process.
At this point, my payment information was needed. “Piece of cake,” I thought, but I’m still stumped on this one. Regardless of which credit card I’ve tried to use, the system tells me that the credit card number is invalid. I’ve tried different Windows Live and XBox billing pages (one of which let me create a PayPal account with the credit card that Microsoft refuses), but none will actually accept credit card information for my Windows Live account.
A google search reveals that this is not an uncommon problem. However, the same search refused to yield a solution.
So frustrating. Windows Phone App Hub — you’re on the naughty list.
