The recent announcements of Windows Phone 7 has unveiled the path that ISVs and application developers must follow in order to continue to develop for the Microsoft platform. Windows Phone 7 is not compatible with the Windows Mobile series of operating systems, and any existing applications written for Windows Mobile will have to be redeveloped.

Whilst promising to revolutionise the mobile application landscape for both developers and users alike, this must be viewed as a call to action to any organisation currently engaged with developing for the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform. Upon the launch of Window Phone 7 all ISVs will be presented with a level playing field and a clean sheet of paper to develop their applications on and, as with the iPhone, the time to market for new applications will be critical.

Bringing existing applications from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone 7 requires ISVs to migrate their existing codebase to the Microsoft Silverlight platform, and whilst there is the possibility of some code reuse between the platforms, ISVs should expect to have to rewrite major portions of their application, at a time when their competition have a clean slate to develop on. The complexity of migrating existing applications to a new platform is compounded when the accrued knowledge and IPR of an organisation cannot be brought to bear on the problem as it will require the rapid learning of a new technology and a new platform.

ISVs should be readying themselves for the launch of Windows Phone 7 now by identifying the applications they want to deliver and re-architecting them ready for the delivery of the Windows Phone 7 platform.

We can help you through this period; with our experience of Silverlight application development combined with knowledge of developing for Windows Mobile, we can assist with your transition to Windows Phone 7. Either by delivering training in Silverlight Development or by performing the migration or re-write for you, we can ensure that you are ready to go to market when the new platform becomes available later this year.