Microsoft’s Senior Director of Windows Phone 7 has reached out to HP developers, whose WebOS platform has recently gone down in flames. Offering a new avenue for operating system tinkerers and giving them the tools to create new applications for the mobile OS, soon to be launching its ‘Mango’ update on Nokia, Samsung and HTC handsets.
Following the death HP’s TouchPad operating system, Microsoft’s Brandon Watson says via tweet: “Any Published WebOS Devs: We’ll give you what you need to be successful on #WindowsPhone, incl.free phones, dev tools, and training, etc.” – a generous offer, which works both ways and is not uncharacteristic of Mr. Watson’s nature.
Previously the eccentric SD of WP has gone as far as giving out his personal number on Twitter so that any developers interested in working with Window Phone 7 could contact him directly, with any questions they may have on the work-in-progress OS software.
Watson also put down a bet with the Dilbert comic-strip creator Scott Adams, that he could try the Microsoft mobile platform, and if he didn’t like it Watson would pony up $1000 to a charity of Adams’ choosing.
Watson’s charitable nature seems to know no bounds, as he even at one point offered free Microsoft wares to members of the hacking community, including WP7 jailbreakers, if they would share their skills and actually help Microsoft.
When questioned on his decision to offer free Microsoft tools to rival OS developers Watson replied simply: “Because every developer matters, that’s why.”
In wake of Hewlett-Packard’s plans to discontinue the WebOS software, the HP Touchpad has recieved a massive price slash in the US – will the cost cut affect the UK? Read the Gadget Helpline’s story – here.
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