Employees are Leaving Windows Phone 7 Team to Develop for the Platform

Microsoft employees are leaving the Windows Phone 7 development team to work on creating their own applications for the platform, according to information received by MobileCrunch.

Just today Microsoft detailed how applications will work on Windows Phone 7 during its MIX 2010 keynote. Response to the platform has been overwhelming positive and its developers are looking to cash in on their work.

Microsoft Program Manager Mel Sampat, a main voice behind the Windows Mobile blog for 4 years and developer of the Calendar interface in Windows Phone 7, is was departing to found mist labs, a company focusing on "helping big brands port their iPhone investments over to WM7" along with a few original apps of their own.

Source reveal that at least 6 other team members have also left with similar intent.

-----
Hey guys
after 4 amazing years in this team, I’ve decided to shake things up a bit. I’m leaving Microsoft and my last day will be Mar 12. Wtf? Well, as some of you know, I was an ISV before coming to Microsoft, and made a decent living writing Pocket PC apps way back in the good old days when we were kicking ass with WM5. After seeing the great reception 7 has received, the dormant entrepreneur in me has resurrected with a huge urge to write apps again. I see an opportunity in a few original ideas I have, as well as helping big brands port their iPhone investments over to WM7. So I’m starting a new company and hope to have some cool WM7 stuff “ready in time for holiday 2010″.

It’s been a pleasure & honor to work alongside so many of you. I will support Microsoft from the outside, and wish nothing but the best for 7. Thanks again for your friendship, comradry and “teachable moments” since 2006. Stay in touch and feel free to drop me a line if you ever need the ISV perspective on something. I leave my features in the able hands of Steve May and the rest of the Time Management team, who deserve credit for the Calendar experience I helped build.

How to find me:

[Removed]

See you down the road.
-MelSam
-----

Although Microsoft probably isn't happy with losing key team members, this is definitely a promising sign for the platform.

Read More