Someone asked me the other day, “Why are you developing for Windows Phone 7?” We had an interesting discussion, but for me it boiled down to three main reasons. Here they are:
The User Experience
The core user experience on the phone is very clean. The information you need is where it should be, everything just works. Using the phone is a seamless transition between applications. I don’t even like using the word applications, because it’s more like functionality. It feels like one app (a phone) with a gazillion features added. Users like simple and Windows Phone 7 is simple.
The Marketplace
The concept of a marketplace isn’t new. Microsoft, however, has solved many of the problems I have had with other marketplaces. It’s closed in an open way. What I mean by this is that only applications that pass Microsoft’s criteria will be accepted, but the criteria that you need to meet are clear. This allows for an ecosystem where users can trust the applications they install and developers can feel confident that there application will be accepted before they start developing it.
Ease of Development
The last reason we have decided to develop for WP7 is the ease of development. Microsoft has long been a leader when it comes to development tools and technology. By using existing frameworks with Silverlight and XNA Microsoft has made our investment in these technologies even more valuable. Instead of there being a steep learning curve on a new platform, we have been immediately productive.
Community
I know I said 3 reasons, so consider this one a bonus. The community surrounding Microsoft technologies including Windows Phone 7 is phenomenal. This community is created by developers who are always willing to spend extra time to help out their peers. This community is strongly encouraged by Microsoft and is one of the main reasons we continue to develop using many Microsoft technologies including Windows Phone 7. If you don’t already, I encourage you to find your local user group and attend meetings. Find out what other developers are doing through twitter, blogs, and other forums.