Now that Mango has come to a lot of Windows Phones, there's still a few big things to look forward to this year: Skype, Nokia and of course ChevronWP7 Labs. For those new to the site or community, ChevronWP7 Labs is the little project by Rafael Rivera, Chris Walsh and Long Zheng who originally unlocked Windows Phone in the pre and post NoDo era (with Microsoft's indirect and humorous approval).
The Labs project has one goal:"......to allow hobbyist developers to install, run, and debug unsigned applications on their personal Windows Phone". That is, it's a way for you, the regular user, to toy around with some advanced tools without breaking the bank and while being sanctioned by Microsoft. And now that day is nearly upon us, meaning you can soon join the homebrew community to side-load some apps on to your Windows Phone.
Here's how the process will work when launched in a few weeks:
- You'll need a Windows Live ID (it can be different from your Windows Phone Live ID)
- Purchase an "unlock token". Cost is $9.00 via PayPal and is good for infinite unlocks per single phone.
- Download and install an unlocking too, which is similar to the official AppHub registration one
- Your phone will be placed in a queue to be unlocked and that's it!
All in all, this will provide a great opportunity for those who aren't full-time developers nor those who can't afford to pay the regular $99 to unlock their phones. It should also expand the hobbyist and homebrew community significantly, giving Windows Phone users a new avenue to explore as well as apply new ideas.
The team is wrapping up the final preparations now and we can look for an official launch in a few weeks. We'll of course keep you abreast of all and any new developments.
Read the full details from the ChevronWP7 Labs team right here.
