14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, the first 'hacking tool' for Windows Phone 7 handsets was made available for download, namely ChevronWP7, with a lot of discussion around it being conducted over the Internet, including an official response from Microsoft.
The tool was aimed at offering Windows Phone 7 users the possibility to easily load on their handsets applications that otherwise were not available for them (Microsoft limits the use of mobile apps on Windows Phone 7 devices to the software available via the Windows Phone Marketplace).
According to the software solution's developers, their aim was only at expanding this functionality, and not at enabling piracy on Microsoft's OS, or at bricking handsets.
“We anticipated that people would attempt to unlock the phones and explore the underlying operating system. We encourage people to use their Windows Phone as supplied by the manufacturer to ensure the best possible user experience,” the company reportedly stated.
“Attempting to unlock a device could void the warranty, disable phone functionality, interrupt access to Windows Phone 7 services or render the phone permanently unusable.”
Of course, making all sorts of modifications to a mobile phone's software could easily render the handset unusable at any time, and this is exactly what Microsoft is saying here.
However, we should note that the company does not state that the ChevronWP7 application itself would brick the device.
According to the tool's developers, if the statement would have been delivered by the Windows Phone 7 team, it would have been clear that the solution is not seen as a threat for a handset's stability.
Things got heated up when various bloggers accused the team behind ChevronWP7 that they would proliferate piracy, and that the tool might brick Windows Phone 7 devices.
“This is patently false as we use the same exact procedure the official Phone Registration tool uses,” developer Rafael Rivera notes in a recent blog post.
“I recommend you wait for an official response from the real Windows Phone 7 guys in Redmond. You know, the ones who actually worked on Windows Phone 7 and know what they’re talking about,” he continues.
Whether Microsoft will come up with a new statement on the matter, it remains to be seen. In the meantime, you can download the application from here.