Microsoft to Support Homebrew Apps on Windows Phone 7

Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is reportedly planning to support the initiative to offer homebrew applications for its new Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system.

We've already reported on the availability of the first such solution, namely the ChevronWP7 custom ringtone manager, coming from the same developers who released the ChevronWP7 unlocking tool for Windows Phone 7.

However, more of them are expected to emerge on the Internet in the not too far future, and Microsoft might also have something to do with this, it seems.

According to the team of developers behind the ChevronWP7 software solutions, Rafael Rivera, Chris Walsh, Long Zheng, Microsoft already contacted them to express its interest in the matter.

Here's what they note on the matter, in a post on their website:

"Earlier today, we were contacted by Brandon Watson, Director of Developer Experience for Windows Phone 7, to discuss the ChevronWP7 unlocking tool.

Through this discussion, we established a mutual understanding of our intent to enable homebrew opportunities and to open the Windows Phone 7 platform for broader access to developers and users.

To pursue these goals with Microsoft’s support, Brandon Watson has agreed to engage in further discussions with us about officially facilitating homebrew development on WP7."

Basically, this means that Microsoft might be actively involved in the development of homebrew applications for Windows Phone 7, which definitely sounds like great news both for app builders and for end users.

“We are excited to explore the opportunity to become more involved with the shaping of the platform and to build a feedback channel for developers around the world,” the aforementioned post continues.

For the time being, however, nothing is official on this, and might not be so for a while, but things seem to be shaping up pretty good for the future of Windows Phone 7.

Other mobile operating systems out there are already offering users the possibility to install apps unavailable via their respective software portals, and Microsoft's platform might become more appealing in case the company enables this as well.