Porting guides for Windows Phone 7

PORTLAND, OR, United States – In an effort to make sure mobile developers are prepared to start writing apps for Windows Phone, Symbian Qt has been added to the Windows Phone API mapping tool. The mapping tool is a utility for developers that serves as a translation dictionary between the Windows Phone platform and other mobile operating systems. The tool enables developers who are familiar with APIs from other platforms to see the equivalent class, method or notification events inside Windows Phone.

Intended strictly for developers, the Windows Phone API mapping tool includes core libraries for Qt 4.7 for Symbian, which includes: QtCore; QtGUI; QtLocation; QtNetwork; QtSql; QtXml; QtWebKit; QML Elements; and QML Components. There are also code samples and tutorials to help developers too.

If you’re totally new to Windows Phone development, check out the white paper “Windows Phone Guide for Symbian Qt Application Developers”, released by Microsoft and Nokia that outlines the Windows Phone development cycle for Symbian Qt developers. There are 8 chapters, including Application Design guidelines, C# programming, Porting Applications to Windows Phone and more.

Rounding out the resources recently released, there’s a roadshow that will allow prospective Windows Phone developers to ask questions and receive in-person training.  The Nokia Windows Phone Training roadshow starts in Paris and moves to select locations throughout Europe and a few sessions in Australia as well.

Source: http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/10/12/porting-guides-for-windows-phone-7/

 

This App Is The Only Way To Get Visual Voicemail On Windows Phone 7 Right Now

YouMail, the alternative voicemail and messaging service for smartphones, released an app for Windows Phone 7 that is currently the only option for iPhone-like visual voicemail on the platform.

 

Microsoft Confirms 10K Apps in Windows Phone 7 Marketplace

Microsoft has confirmed that the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace has reached 10,000 apps, and it’s done so faster than any other app store.

“The torrid pace of app creation for Windows Phone continues to amaze me – and should give everyone with a phone good reason to smile,” Microsoft’s Michael Stroh wrote on the Windows Phone blog.

Reports that Microsoft had reached this milestone first emerged over the weekend. According to data cited by Pocketnow, Microsoft reached the number by speeding up its app approval process, allowing roughly 1,200 apps in the store a week, versus the previous rate of 1,000 each week.

Pocketnow said it took Apple 4.7 months to get 10,000 apps in the App Store, and it took the Android Market 11 months. Palm’s Web OS store launched 15 months ago and it has grown at a much slower rate; the store has just 5,000 apps. The Windows Phone 7 Marketplace, on the other hand, reached 10,000 apps in just 4.5 months.

“What explains the Marketplace’s early success? One likely reason… is Windows Phone’s novel design, which gives app makers a lot of interesting creative options,” Stroh continued. “Apps just look better than they do on other phones.”
Stroh also said that another factor in the store’s growth is the “vast army of developers that Microsoft has rallied around the world – some 25,000 to date.”

Although the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace is growing quickly, it still has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to take on iOS or Android. The Android Market reportedly tops 200,000 apps, although Google has not confirmed this figure. Apple confirmed late last year that the App Store has more than 300,000 apps. At this point, the App Store remains the largest source of apps.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2382070,00.asp

 

Prototype Interactive launches “Yalla Apps”, a Windows Phone 7 Developer Portal for the Middle East & Africa region

Yalla Apps is a regional Windows Phone 7 developer portal managed by Prototype Interactive, a leading UAE based digital agency.

 

Accessing Microsoft Office Web Apps with Windows Phone 7

One of the frustrating things about the initial release of Windows Phone 7 is the problem with syncing documents with SkyDrive.