Microsoft’s next-gen Windows Phone mobile operating system, code-named “Mango” is out today, but only for developers. According to a post on the official Windows Phone blog, Microsoft’s Director for Windows Phone Brandon Watson revealed that the early access program is now open for developer access, allowing all to get their hands on Mango at last.
Registered developers will receive an invite to the Microsoft Connect site via email, which is what gives them access to the beta build of Mango. They can then flash the Mango build onto their retail devices.
Developers will also need to do the following, says Watson:
- Download the Windows Phone Developer Tools Beta 2 You will need to update your developer tools to update your phone and to deploy your apps, so run
get them now.
- Read the instructions before updating These are very important steps which you need to follow to the letter. Were committed to supporting our developer community with such an early access program, so if you have questions, start with the forums, which we are monitoring.
The tools beta is free, as is access to Mango.
In addition, 50 student developers can register to receive a free Mango phone via Microsoft’s DreamSpark program. (More details here.)
Microsoft previously said that some developers will be able to get Mango phones, too, prior the OS’s fall launch. The plan for that is still in the works, apparently, since today’s blog post made no mention of this.