Microsoft Releases Tool to Assist in Porting Apps from Android to WP7

Do you have an Android app that you wish were on Windows Phone 7? Well Microsoft is really doing whatever they can to get developers for other OS’s to bring their apps to Windows Phone 7.The latest thing that Microsoft has done is to release the Android to Windows Phone API Mapping tool.

What this tool does is to help you figure out what the steps are in developing for Windows Phone 7 by what you would’ve done when developing for Android. Too confusing for you? Here’s a snippet from the Windows Team Blog that probably explains better.

Think of the API mapping tool as being like a translation dictionary. For example, let’s say that you’re planning a vacation to France. Since you don’t speak the language, you’ll bring a pocket travel dictionary. Having this tool will surely help you get an idea about what you are ordering from a restaurant menu, but you’ll have no idea what the actual recipe is — nor will you be able to have a conversion in French with the server! But it’s a great learning tool to make the first steps.

Microsoft has set up a website specifically for suggestions related to the API Mapping tools . They have also enlisted the “App Guy” to peruse develper forums and answer questions related to porting applications to Windows Phone 7.

Providing tools like this is an awesome way to entice developers to port their apps to Windows Phone 7 and expand the Marketplace, while at the same time will give them a feel of what it’s like developing for this platform. Who knows they may like making apps for Windows Phone 7 to make some exclusive apps for it.

Source: Windowsteamblog