Microsoft opened the doors to developers looking to submit apps for Windows Phone 8.1 as well as ‘universal apps’ that will work across smartphones, tablets and PCs based on the company’s software.

As well as accepting submissions for apps built for the forthcoming OS update, the new versions of Windows Phone and Windows Dev Centers include new shared features which allow users to download an app once, and be able to access them on all of their Windows-based devices.

Keith Senzel, a Dev Center manager, wrote in a blog post the new approach is expected to “increase both paid and free app downloads across device types”.

In-app purchasing functionality will also be linked across stores, while existing or new Windows Phone apps can be linked to Windows 8 and 8.1 programs.

In addition, developers can now reserve names for new Windows Phone apps for up to a year prior to their release, new price tiers of $0.99 and $1.29 have been added, and app certification policies have been harmonised.

Microsoft unveiled a raft of developer tools with its Windows Phone 8.1 update at the beginning of the month, offering the ability to re-use code for apps across smartphones, tablets and PCs; supporting integration with the new Cortana digital assistant; and with improvements to the Windows app store.

Developers were also invited to work with the Cortana digital assistant on Windows Phone 8.1, which uses natural language processing and is able to learn about users from their activity on the device.

Other improvements for developers include the streamlining of the cycle to build, test, debug and deploy apps, with claims that the process to submit apps for Windows has been made 50 times faster.