One app for three devices: Since April universal apps have been available for Windows, regardless of whether the operating system is running on a smartphones, tablet or PC. The apps work on all platforms running Windows 8 onwards. Since the update to 8.1, users can recognise these apps in the Windows Marketplace by a small symbol that appears next to the purchase price.
The advantage of these apps for consumers is that the programme only needs to be bought once and will run optimally on all modern devices that run a type of Windows.
In addition programme data can be moved back and forth between devices. Content and settings can be synchronised using Microsoft's cloud services. For example, a game could be begun on a PC and continued while travelling using a Windows Phone.