Microsoft to distribute Windows Phone Mango to developers on Thursday

By Tom Warren, on 29th Jun 11 11:02 am with 30 Comments

Microsoft is planning to release Windows Phone Mango to developers on Thursday.

The software giant will make beta copies of Windows Phone Mango available to registered Windows Phone Developers according to sources familiar with the company’s plans that spoke to WinRumors. Microsoft has been working to ensure the beta bits are safe for retail devices and will offer them on the company’s AppHub developer site. Windows Phone Developers pay $99 per year for access to the AppHub.

Microsoft’s Senior Director of Communications, Bill Cox, hinted at the announcement in a Twitter message on Wednesday:

Bill Cox Twitter message

Windows Phone Mango, the codename for what is expected to be labeled Windows Phone 7.5, will be released in full later this year. The update includes a number of new enhancements to existing features and tighter communications integration. Windows Phone Mango users will be able to access Facebook Chat and Windows Live Messenger services directly from the messaging hub of Windows Phone. Microsoft previously revealed that Mango contains 500 new features, including an updated version of Internet Explorer to support HTML5 content.

http://twitter.com/gelderclaret Neil Gelder

Tempting very tempting to get a developer license now just for this, but hey I might have a crack at making a few apps as well
- Aaron
  
  I was thinking the same thing. I planned on eventually making some apps anyways, so this will just give me the kick in the pants I needed. By the way, are we allowed to call them “apps” or does Apple have a trademark on that? I don’t want to get sued
Emma Roids

where is this news coming from?
- Renzo
  
  “sources familiar with the company’s plans that spoke to WinRumors”
http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle

Err… where’s the evidence?
- http://www.winrumors.com Tom W
  
  What proof would you like exactly?
- http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle
  
  I think you know perfectly well what would substantiate this story.
  
  Obviously “sources familiar with the company’s plans” wish to remain anonymous.
- http://www.winrumors.com Tom W
  
  Heh yeah I can’t exactly reveal that
  
  Plans change (like they did previously) but we’ll see on Thursday
- http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle
  
  I love that 24 hours after I’m skeptical of seeing this released, I have Mango on my phone.
- http://www.winrumors.com Tom W
  
  Heh yeah I can’t exactly reveal that
  
  Plans change (like they did previously) but we’ll see on Thursday
- Anonymous
  
  Seriously?!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000678662470 Vincent Haakmat

It’s about time. All these journalists reports were driving me as a developer nuts. Where’s the download link?
Manish

I wish I had been WP7 developer.
Manish

I wish I had been WP7 developer.
Aaron

I’m a little confused. Did your “sources” tell you it would be released Thursday or is that based solely on that Twitter message? ”juicy” does seem to strongly hint at something Mango related. Fingers crossed!
- Sionic Ion
  
  I believe he meant he had sources tell him that plus this tweet. Also, Microsoft would’ve probably reported this as false like last week if this wasn’t the case. It should’ve been released last week, I heard it had an issue being “Apparently, the build that was to be released had a faulty upgrade script that pointed to a Microsoft Corporate file share, which would not work outside the company, which inevitably caused the delay.”
  
  So I believe it would make perfect sense tomorrow it will be released as it was going to be released soon anyway.
Bnlf

oh yes!
Mikado_Wu

Is there not a lot of unannounced features left in Mango? Would it not be smart to release them before they release the beta for the software?
- Anonymous
  
  i believe the beta won’t be feature complete.
- Anonymous
  
  i believe the beta won’t be feature complete.
http://twitter.com/lancewmccarthy Lance W. McCarthy

Listening to some interviews, I do believe its possible. They have been working hard to make sure the bits wont brick our devices. I already have an app written for Mango, but needed the device to complete it. The emulator can only do so much
Centeno47

Yea good but still no flash
- HenningK
  
  No, thanks god.
Brandon

and i JUST submitted my app to marketplace last night. happy happy joy joy!
Anonymous

Any idea whether this will include student developer accounts and unlocked devices?
Emma Roids

Lets just hope its rolled out to all developers not just the US bunch.
Anonymous

So does this mean i can buy apphub and get Mango or do you have to have x amount of apps published already? I’ve been wanting to subscribe for a little while now, but this may be the extra umph to make the 99.00 seem less of a kick
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=11814278 Chris Woelfel

It’s a rumor site and you want proof of rumors and sources? Ironic don’t you think…
Anonymous

Yes, please! So very excited
http://ahylianhuman.me Rod Davis

So I was invited for loading the Mango beta on my Windows Phone. Except I don’t have a Windows Phone. I sadface’d