JEFF BLANKENBURG

Random geekery since 2005.

Husband, father, programmer, speaker, writer, blogger, podcaster, collector, traveler, golfer.

Any developers looking for a free phone? I got ‘em.

Written in

June 21, 2012

jeffblankenburg

Yesterday, Microsoft announced the future of Windows Phone, and it looks amazing. Multicore devices, multiple resolutions, native code, NFC (near-field communication), and a remarkable digital wallet solution that I’ve been begging for from ANY mobile platform for 10 years now.

In the meantime, yesterday was an announcement. Devices aren’t available yet, and the SDK won’t be available until later this summer. So how do you get on this bandwagon today?

By building apps for Windows Phone 7.5.

Any apps you’ve built today will run on Windows Phone 8. Heck, they’re even going to compile them in the cloud for you, so that they start and run even faster. You’ll be able to take advantage of the new features of Windows Phone 8 in your v2.0 app. You’ll have all of the fundamentals you need to build apps for Windows Phone AND Windows 8 at that point.

I know what you’re thinking: “Jeff, why would I build an app today, when the Windows Phone 8 SDK will be available this summer?” Because you’ve waited this long already. The Windows Phone 7 SDK was available 2 years ago, and you haven’t gotten started. What suddenly changed your mind?

Oh, and I’ll give you a free Nokia Lumia 710. That’s unlikely to happen for Windows Phone 8.

Before you jump the gun, there are a couple of restrictions on who I can give these phones to.

You must live in one of the following states: Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin
You must be willing and able to build 2 real apps for Windows Phone before October 1, and get them published in the Windows Phone Marketplace. (If you miss the deadline, you will have to send it back to me.)
You can’t have already received a free phone from Microsoft. (Yes, I have the list.)

If my list of requirements doesn’t seem overwhelming, and you’re interested in getting a free device, email me at jeblank [at] microsoft [dotcom] and I’ll be happy to discuss it.

Finally, I’d had many people ask me what “qualifies” as an app. My quality bar is simple:

If you truly believe that people you’ve never met would use it, it qualifies.

So what are you waiting for? Send me an email, and we’ll get this started!

9 responses to “Any developers looking for a free phone? I got ‘em.”

Jimmy Bosse

June 21, 2012

What a great offer! Too bad I live in Maryland. 😦

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Chris

June 21, 2012

I’m in! It sounds like fun and I’ve been wanting to try out Windows Phone development. Any good ideas for some apps that the marketplace could use?

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Alexander Schmidt

June 22, 2012

Nice, but is’t that requires App Hub membership which is $99?

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1. jeffblankenburg
  
  June 25, 2012
  
  Yes. I can see why having to spend $99 on a developer membership would be very annoying after you were given a $550 phone for free. My apologies.
  
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Mark Downie

June 22, 2012

Thanks Jeff! Got my phone this morning!!!!!

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Chris

June 26, 2012

Thanks Jeff! Got it yesterday and already have my first app 1/2 done!!

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John Michael Hauck

June 26, 2012

Thanks Jeff! Got it yesterday!

(It came up localized for Brazil – good thing I did not press the “make emergency call” button by mistake)

Thanks again.

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Tom

June 29, 2012

Jeff – I hope I’m not stepping on any toes here but Nokia is doing something similar but its for 1 app and they give you a token to use with App Hub.

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80’s Rocker

July 12, 2012

Tom,

Do you have the link for the Nokia offer. I can get 1 app done, but not sure about 2. If you don’t want to post it here, let me know and I can get you my email account.

Jeff,

Do you know what MS is going to do once the Win8 store goes live. That is my main issue with paying $99 for AppHub membership. I know that within 2 months will be paying for Win8 store membership & I don’t want to have to pay for 2 different stores. Hoping that MS makes it so if you have membership in one you get membership in other.

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