Windows Phone 7.1 (Mango) SDK Beta 2 and Special Offer for Students

Last week, the Windows Phone Developer team announced the availability of Windows Phone OS 7.1 codenamed Mango for registered Windows Phone developers. This means that as of now, registered developers can update their retail device to the Beta 2 of Mango.

Here are some details about this program:

• You must have an active, validated App Hub account. Visit our membership page to become a registered Windows Phone developer.
• Download and Update your development environment to the Windows Phone SDK 7.1 Beta 2 (formerly known as the Windows Phone Developer Tools).
• If you're registered for Windows Phone Marketplace, you'll receive an invitation from Microsoft Connect that will provide access to a firmware update for your retail Windows Phone device (only one phone per developer).

Another great announcement: students can get a free special Mango developer device, by creating a mock-up for the next Windows Phone app!

Here’s what to do:

• Make sure you’re registered for DreamSpark.
• Download and install Expression Studio Ultimate and the new Mango Windows Phone Developer Tools (available free as a member of DreamSpark).
• Get the free Sketchflow Template for Windows Phone and create a Sketchflow mock-up of your app.
• Post the Sketchflow mock-up somewhere online and tweet out the link using the hash tag #WPAppItUp.
• The team will review all prototypes and will contact the developers who submit the best ones and send them a special Mango developer device.

Some resources:

• Creating Windows Phone Applications Using Expression Blend – Unni Ravindranathan’s talk at MIX11
• The Windows Phone Developer Tools Beta 2
• What’s New in the Windows Phone SDK 7.1 Public Beta 2 Release
• Get Real! Sketch, Prototype and Capture Great Ideas with Expression Blend and SketchFlow – Sara Summer’s talk at MIX11