There are plenty of resources on the internet that help you to get started with developing apps for Windows 8 phone platform (downloading visual studio, required sdks, etc). This post assumes that you got acquainted with the development environment, making cool apps for the platform.
So, NOW WHAT?
Till this point, you have made a super cool app, tested it several times on the windows phone emulator. Now, you want to test your app on an actual device, experience your app as a user will experience it. Well, it’s not the simple. To test it on a device, you need to be registered as an developer to Microsoft and also your device should be registered too.
STEPS TO REGISTER AS A DEVELOPER:
1. To register, you need to have a Microsoft account (click here to create if you don’t have one).
2. Next Register as an developer using your Microsoft Account. (Click here)
After you create a developer account, you can submit unlimited paid apps to the Windows Phone Store and the Windows Store. But, here’s the glitch, an individual developer account costs around Rs. 1200 (INR) [approx $19 USD] per year.
GOOD NEWS! FOR STUDENTS
1. Good news is that, you can easily save bucks by just keeping your school ID (or university ID) in hand. Visit DreamSpark, go to the section saying DreamSpark for Students.
2. Check if your school is already enlisted (more benifits!)
3. Create your dreamSpark verified student account (Click here). Submit the required documents. (Account verification usually takes a day or two) Voila! you just got enrolled for a bunch of benefits. (Check it out on your own, here we will concentrate about Free Publisher Account).
4. Once, verified, sign in with your dream spark account. Now, click here, to get your registration code and redeem it.
5. Go to Step 2 of ‘Register as developer‘, fill out the details (use individual account type) and in the payment section, use the registration code. Bingo! the amount just changed to Rs. ZERO per year!
After Registration, you will be given publisher code and other unique details that identifies you as an developer to Microsoft. Henceforth, you can easily deploy apps to physical devices.
This work is under GPLv3 license. Images and videos can be distributed and shared. But commercial rights rests with Abhishek Mukhopadhyay (license IN492647E).