Microsoft to disable Windows Phone 7 unlocking in first update

[Emil]

In the first update to Windows Phone 7, Microsoft is planning to block ChevronWP7, which allowed users to unlock any retail Windows Phone 7 device for application side-loading without having to pay $99 per year for a WP7 marketplace account. The update, which is slated for release this month, will also introduce copy and paste functionality, among other improvements.

"On a similar note, we're aware the ChevronWP7 unlocking tool is still being utilized since it has been discontinued," according to the ChevronWP7 team. "Although this has been subtly communicated before, we'd like to reiterate Microsoft has informed us the 'coding error' used in the ChevronWP7 unlocker will no longer work after the next Windows Phone 7 update (officially announced at CES 2011). We hope to provide an update after the discussions."

ChevronWP7 was discontinued less than a week after its release about two months ago. ChevronWP7's three developers, Long Zheng, Rafael Rivera, and Chris Walsh were approached by Brandon Watson, Director of Developer Experience for Windows Phone 7, and decided to kill their app.

Zheng, Rivera, and Walsh have said Microsoft wants them to become more involved with the shaping of the homebrew scene on the Windows Phone platform, but ChevronWP7 will not be the way to do so. In fact, the trio has a meeting with Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 team next week in Redmond, and they will be focusing on homebrew as well as stronger protection of WP7 developer intellectual property.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/41948-microsoft-to-disable-windows-phone-7-unlocking-in-first-update.html

 

[madboyv1]

PR stunt or not, it's good to see a developer willing to work with homebrew folks.

 

[mccartercar]

Sony should take note of M$ practices with wp7 regarding homebrew.
Instead of threatening to sue every last individual that shows interest in using an awesome hardware platform to do their bidding and be their all-in-1 system, Sony should appreciate the scene and embrace it.

 

[princeton]

With kinect and now this it seems that MS is being more open in terms of homebrew and Modding.

 

[gwailo247]

Princeton said:
With kinect and now this it seems that MS is being more open in terms of homebrew and Modding.

I would say that a light bulb finally came on over Ballmer's head, but the illumination is probably more likely the result of rubbing two sticks together for a long time.

But if we look outside of catchy marketing schemes, what has been shareware and freeware been for the past two decades, but essentially homebrew programs made by users for other users? Ten or fifteen years ago, a lot of times if you wanted some kind of specific functionality on your PC you needed either to find a shareware program to do it, or write your own.

But I'm thinking positive about this.

 

[Jibberish18]

So the $99.....do you a CONSUMER pay $99 to use the Marketplace or is it meant for DEVELOPERS?

 

[Guest]

It was cracked in less than 24 hours, so they may as well disable it.

 

[Guest]

The $99 is to sign up as a developer, which allows unlocking your phone for side-loading among other things.

 

[Guest]

I'm about as likely to pay $99 to develop apps for WP7 as I am to buy a Mac to develop for the iPhone.

 

[Guest]

That's good information to know, and thanks for the relevant simile.

 

[princeton]

Guest said:
I'm about as likely to pay $99 to develop apps for WP7 as I am to buy a Mac to develop for the iPhone.

The point is to keep away stupid noobs who release useless apps by making it so they'll lose money if it's a garbage app.