Microsoft desperately wants to see the Windows Phone platform take off, but for that to happen, it needs all the apps it can get. And it seems to be heading the right way, albeit an expensive one, as it is paying developers up to $100,000 to get their apps on the Windows Phone platform.

What Microsoft is planning could be a difficult sell as there are only 30+ million Windows Phone users compared to the 600 million iOS users and 1 billion Android users. According to the Business Insider, Microsoft currently has an offer where the company pays $100 per app to any developer who successfully submit an app to the Windows Phone store. However, developers can only make up to $2,000 from this offer, which means 20 apps would have to be submitted to the store.

The developers, who are getting over the $2000 mark and up to $100,000, are probably the ones with popular apps on both Android and iOS. These popular apps are one of the few things Windows Phone need right now to draw user attention, as without them, Windows Phone is like a turtle without a shell.

One of the most popular apps that could tip the balance is Instagram. This app is popular among teenagers from all lifestyles, and these are the demography Microsoft wants to be excited about its mobile platform.

It is clear Microsoft is willing to spend big on Windows Phone, as the company is currently delivering $1 billion per year to Nokia to build Windows Phone based devices. This is a multiyear deal, and it is not yet certain if both companies would renew this deal when it comes to an end, or take a different path.

Currently, Windows Phone platform is growing and has even surpassed BlackBerry in market share in the U.S. and the rest of the world. However, Microsoft isn't resting on its success and wants to ensure that it remains in the hunt for the top spot in the mobile platform market.