Less than a week after it’s release and fresh off yesterday’s release of the first homebrew app, ChevronWP7 has been discontinued and removed. The app effectively jailbroke Windows Phone 7 devices allowing for sideloading of apps, apps that might no necessarily be approved by the Microsoft’s Marketplace app store. According to reports, the tool angered those in the Windows Phone development team and they reached out to the developers of the tool. Brandon Watson, Director of Developer Experience for Windows Phone 7, contacted the developers of ChevronWP7 to discuss the unlocking tool. The discussion led to the removal and this update from the ChevronWP7 dev team.
Through this discussion, we established a mutual understanding of our intent to enable homebrew opportunities and to open the Windows Phone 7 platform for broader access to developers and users.
To pursue these goals with Microsoft’s support, Brandon Watson has agreed to engage in futher discussions with us about officially facilitating homebrew development on WP7. To fast-track discussions, we are discontinuing the unlocking tool effective immediately.
It sounds as if the unofficial unlocking tool is gone, but perhaps Microsoft is considering an official route to allowing homebrew apps.
Winrumors via Windows Phone 7 Central
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