New developer favorable rules in Marketplace announced

Feb 17, 2010 06:51 GMT  ·  By

Windows Marketplace for Mobile, the applications portal from where Windows Phone owners can download applications for their handsets, has just seen a series of improvements related to the user experience, and includes a series of new features aimed at developers too, Microsoft announced. Among them, there is a new Windows Mobile 6.5.3 DTK available for download, meant to help application developers build apps for the latest released flavor of the mobile OS, and there are also some applications policy changes, along with free app submissions to additional markets, and more.

“The Windows Mobile 6.5.3 DTK provides documentation, sample code, header and library files, emulator images and tools you can use with Visual Studio to build applications for Windows Mobile 6.5 and 6.5.3,” an excerpt from Microsoft's download website reads. The software solution has been published on Tuesday, includes the Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional DTK and Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Standard DTK images, and has to be installed “to use any of the Windows Mobile 6.5.3 APIs or samples.” The solution is compatible with Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows XP Service Pack 3, Microsoft also notes.

As for the rest of the new changes aimed at developers, we should mention improved registration, submission and management process, which is the result of feedback from ISVs, the Redmond-based software company states, “We’ve listened, and fixed a lot of the problems and annoyances you’ve told us about to make it easier to register, submit applications for multiple markets, and simplify the update process. You’ll see them all over. Tell us what you think and keep the feedback coming.” At the same time, Microsoft announced that ISVs wouldn't have to pay a $10 fee for submitting applications to additional markets, and there are also a series of applications policy changes, which now allow “VoIP applications that use a carrier network, unless explicitly prohibited by a mobile operator.”

All in all, it seems that the software giant is determined to attract as many developers as possible to building applications for its Windows Mobile 6.x operating systems. The new rules in the Marketplace are beneficial for them, and they can also enjoy the new Windows Mobile 6.5.3 DTK, which Microsoft says that comes with a series of improvements over previous versions.

Download Windows Mobile 6.5.3 DTK