Microsoft has unveiled its developer platform for the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 Series, promising the chance to build some ’stunning apps’.

The framework will allow developers to play with elements like the accelerometer, locations services, push notifications, hardware video acceleration and multi-touch support – in short, helping create well-rounded apps.

So in the future we’ll be seeing games controlled by motion, using the GPS chip, taking advantage of background updates and even multi-touch control.

Admittedly, it’s nothing new – but it’s good to see Microsoft trying to at least draw level with the likes of Apple in the development game.

A raft of new development tools have also been offered, along with the unveiling of the new Windows Phone Marketplace, where the apps and games will be available for download.

New vista

This new Marketplace features a panoramic design and ‘active merchandising’ to increase the discoverability of games and applications, and supports one-time credit card purchases, mobile operator billing and advertising-funded applications to increase the raft of options on offer.

The Marketplace will also enable customers to try applications before buying them and allow developers to cross-promote their applications through deep linking – so if you like something from one dev, chances are you’ll be interested in seeing what else they’ve got cooking.

A number of companies – including EA Mobile, Shazam and Sling Media – are already signed up to provide apps for the Marketplace, so we’re looking forward to Christmas this year to see what kind of options are going to be offered by the developer community.

Microsoft opens up Windows Phone 7 developer platform via http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/phone-and-communications-news/~3/TiH4-e6TBqs/story01.htm TechRadar Mobile

Related posts:

• Exclusive: Microsoft open to Playstation on Windows Phone 7? Microsoft hasn’t ruled out the possibility of another console...
• Microsoft: what Windows Phone 7 could have looked like Microsoft used the MIX2010 event to show off what...
• Is Windows Phone the Best Mobile Platform You’re Not Using? In the world of smartphones, Windows Phone 7 is...
• Hands on: Windows Phone 7 Series review Steve Ballmer announced Windows Phone 7 Series (Windows Mobile...
• Windows Marketplace now has 20,000 apps It was only a couple of months ago that...