Windows Phone SDK 7.1 RC Available for Download

The Windows Phone Mango operating system is only a few weeks away, and Microsoft is making the final preparations for its arrival, one of which involved the release of the release candidate of Windows Phone SDK 7.1.

The software development kit includes all of the resources that developers need for coming up with applications for the mobile OS.

The SDK was packed with the tools to enable the building of applications for both the Windows Phone 7 and 7.1 platform flavors.

With the new release of Windows Phone SDK 7.1, developers can finally start submitting their applications to the Windows Phone Marketplace, so as to have them available for download as soon as the first Mango devices are put for sale.

The latest version of the development kit was made available for download a few days before Microsoft announced that app builders can submit their Mango software to the Windows Phone Marketplace.

“The Windows Phone Software Development Kit (SDK) 7.1 provides you with all of the tools that you need to develop applications and games for both Windows Phone 7.0 and Windows Phone 7.5 devices,” Microsoft notes.

“This download is the Release Candidate (RC) and provides a ‘Go Live’ license that enables you to develop and publish applications to the Windows Phone Marketplace.”

The new release of the SDK comes with a wide range of changes when compared to the previously available flavor, including enhancements related to multitasking and app compatibility, or a series of improvements that at aimed at the Windows Phone Emulator.

Windows Phone OS 7.1 comes with Silverlight 4 and the appropriate modifications were performed with the SDK as well.

Other chances are related to sensors, network information, push notifications, Live Tiles, media support, device status, and more.

Basically, all aspects of the device and the OS have seen improvements in the new OS flavor, and the Windows Phone SDK 7.1 was meant to reflect that.

Download the Windows Phone SDK 7.1 RC