I was talking to Rob Chartier last week and brought up the idea that Microsoft should give Windows Phone 7 devices to PDC attendees this November which he obviously agreed with.
Main reasons, App is The Killer App. Gone are the days that you would buy a phone because it could do something you wanted (software wise), today we buy the phone that is the better platform, has more applications and is more usable (doesn’t require a stylus to function ;).
How do you get a better platform and more apps? you make sure there is an ample supply of developers and applications on you platform. How do you make sure that you will have enough applications and developers? You gather a bunch of developers that are already invested in your technologies, perhaps for a conference regarding said technologies and give them sample devices; naturally the developers will go home and start writing applications for those devices. In a short little while you’ll have a lot of applications and a bunch of experienced developers working on your platform.
So far Microsoft has been showing a lot of good signs, a few days ago news came out that all the blue badgers and even all the interns will get free WP7 devices. It also shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone if Microsoft did give WP7 devices out this year since it wouldn’t be the first time that they have given away hardware for their upcoming platform. Remember PDC09, every attendee received a tablet. back then it was used to encourage touch and ink development for Windows 7.
Last and certainly not least I’m gonna be there and Rob is gonna be there too. My 3GS is starting to show it’s age and Rob defiantly needs help in the mobile department, he is still struggling to use the abomination that is Windows Mobile 6.5. every time he takes out his stylus to click on something I die a little bit inside.
