Microsoft yesterday announced that its Windows Store – a new online marketplace for applications for Windows 8 and Windows RT computers – is now open to developers in 120 geographic markets.

“Today’s 82 additional markets more than doubles our support toward enabling developer opportunity everywhere there’s a developer with desire,” noted a company blog.

Any developer can now submit applications for inclusion in the store, which will feature free and fee-based applications delivered via a variety of methods. Windows Store applications make use of the new tile-based interface in Windows 8 and Windows RT, which formerly was called Metro and is now referred to as Modern. This interface is designed to work best on touchscreen devices such as tablets.

Given the shared code between the new Windows 8 operating system and Windows Phone 8, Microsoft will also need to get mobile developers onboard fast if  Windows 8 is going to get close to the appeal of Mac OS X, Android, or even BlackBerry.