Jan 31, 2011 17:51 GMT  ·  By

Windows Phone 7 developers have already started to receive money for the applications they have submitted to the Windows Phone Marketplace, after a wait of around three months since the application portal was launched, along with the new mobile platform itself.

Microsoft promised sometime in December that it would process developer payouts as soon as January, and it seems that it already started to send money to application builders.

Developers were announced on this move through mail, a recent article on MobileTechWorld reads. Moreover, it seems that the newsletter also provided info on a series of changes that Microsoft plans on making to the Marketplace.

“We are very happy to announce that all developer payouts have been processed this month as promised on December 9,” the said email from Microsoft reportedly states.

“If you haven’t received your payments yet, make sure you provided us with your bank and tax information. Please note that developer payouts will only be processed for those who reached the U.S. $200 payout threshold.”

Microsoft also confirmed that it managed to sell a number of over 2 million Windows Phone 7 licenses to OEMs worldwide, complemented by the fact that there are already over 6,500 applications available for download via the Marketplace.

Among the upcoming changes, the company notes the upcoming Windows Phone 7 software update, aimed at expanding the functionality of the platform, while also expected to improve the performance levels the OS offers.

“These updates will be pushed out to our existing customers and will include several changes. The two most noteworthy for Windows Phone users are the addition of copy and paste, and significant performance improvements when loading or switching between applications,” Microsoft notes.

“Existing applications already written and published will automatically receive the benefits of copy and paste and performance improvements when users update their devices,” the company continues.

Apparently, developers won't need to recompile or resubmit applications, at least in most cases. The manner in which they utilize development tools and APIs would remain unchanged as well.

“Although this is true for most cases, there might be some specific situations in which developers might prefer to recompile their apps to improve user experience. We will provide you with more information about these scenarios soon,” the said email reads.

Microsoft also reiterated plans on making the first Windows Phone 7 devices available for purchase on the airwaves of Sprint and Verizon in the first half of 2011.