Hi folks,

This is a catch-all place where I'll post and update common questions that get raised about the 'Mango' Beta 2 pre-release update. Joanna and her team have the technical points pretty well covered; the point of this thread is more a catch-all for more meta-points that aren't relevant in the technical posts in this forum.

Confidentiality

Q: What are the confidentiality requirements of my participation in this pre-release program?
By participating in this pre-release program, you are agreeing to not share the ‘Mango’ pre-release device image, binary dumps, or the applications used to update to this pre-release image, with third parties.

Supported Countries

Q: Why don’t all Windows Phone developers get Mango?
Every registered Windows Phone developer is being given the opportunity to install Mango on a developer unlocked phone for testing purposes. The Mango distribution process for developers began on 6/29 with early access for developers in 23 major markets. We view this as beta period for the distribution process. Over the coming weeks, we will further improve the distribution process, add support for additional countries and enable developers in countries where we are unable to offer technical support to also install Mango at their discretion.

Q: What sort of technical support are developers getting as part of the Mango distribution process? 
As part of the Mango distribution process for developers that began on 6/29, developers in 23 major markets received an invitation to install Mango and full support for one device. Microsoft will help address issues associated with the installation of beta Mango code with support for a single device up to and including replacing a device rendered inoperable as a result of the installation process. Invitations and support will be extended to developers in additional markets over the coming weeks. Developers in markets where full support is not available, but who still choose to install Mango, will have access to support via this public forum.

 

 

 

Supported Devices

Q: What retail devices are supported for this pre-release program?
All retail MO/OEM devices are supported as part of this program. There had been one exception (a late version of the Samsung Focus (v1.4, also referred to as the Focus "dot")), but support for that device was added on July 19.

Invitations

Q: What if I didn't get an invitation?
We very much appreciate your passion to evaluate your application on 'Mango'. If you haven't received an invitation, one of two things have likely happened:

• The email is in your junk mail/spam folder: This has happened to the vast majority of folks who have contacted me/us. Please please please check your junk mail filter for an invitation - the e-mail would be sent from 'msftconn@microsoft.com' with the subject line of 'Invitation from Microsoft Connect'
• You recently registered: Please be patient; we're sending out invitations at least twice a week for newly registered developers. 

Check the next question below (Who has gotten an invitation so far?); if believe you should have been in that group, but you haven't gotten a request and believe you qualified, either open a App Hub service ticket or submit a request on this web form - we will need your registered name, ISV ID, account type, company name, and the contact e-mail address as it is currently set on App Hub. All of this information can be found on the 'account info' section of your App Hub profile.

Q: Who has gotten an invitation?
We've sent invitations to registered Windows Phone developers who had active and vetted App Hub accounts as of Monday, Sept 26, 2011.

Q: I joined App Hub after the last membership cut-off date you sent invitations for; when will I get my invitation?
Invitations are no longer going out. The pre-release program is now closed per the 'Windows Phone 7.5 Updating OS from Beta 2 to RTM' thread.

Q: How about students accounts?
We aren't treating student accounts any differently than non-student accounts.

Other Questions

More Coming soon

Cliff Simpkins:

Q: What are the confidentiality requirements of my participation in this pre-release program?
By participating in this pre-release program, you are agreeing to not share the ‘Mango’ pre-release device image, binary dumps, or the applications used to update to this pre-release image, with third parties.

So we are allowed to talk about the actual features included in the update? The original wording said we couldn't say a thing about the beta. This new wording, however, makes it sound like the confidentiality agreement only applies to the OS image, code, and anything else that was provided to us. Essentially: we can talk about it, but we can't give it to someone else or share the exact method in which we got it.

Sorry for all the questions, but I want to make sure the confidentiality agreement isn't broken.

I'd really like to send you an email but i cant since i dont know your adress. Any chance of getting that?
However i've got a student account (verified and everything) for a couple of months and live in austria - should have gotten an email but havent. Looking forward to getting one in the future.

Mr. Simpkins,

First, thanks for this Discussion.  It gave me the answer I needed regarding what I should do about my invitation.

I don't see your email address anywhere, so I hope you're monitoring this forum.
If you can post it, or point me to it, I'll be happy to send an email to you with my app hub info.

-thanks
-e

Hi,

Master Devwi:

Essentially: we can talk about it, but we can't give it to someone else or share the exact method in which we got it.

You got it.

Master Devwi:

Sorry for all the questions, but I want to make sure the confidentiality agreement isn't broken.

No worries; quite appreciated. Glad you want to talk about it. :)

General note - updated the Qs.

Also, second note as a reminder that I'm off on a holiday weekend, and to remind folks that I likely won't be working on these until Tuesday morning.

Hi Cliff,

Thanks for the time you spent to help developers.

I sent you an email by your blog's contact form before you update the thread.
In few words I don't receive the invitation or I drop it when i clean my inbox. I want to know if the invitation can be resent ?

Do you want I send you another mail on the thread's mail address ?

Cordially

PS : Sorry for my poor english I'm a french developer.

I know folks are anxious for invites, and I'm glad folks are excited to get 'Mango' on their developer phones - I'm out for the holiday weekend. Mid-day Friday (my time), I responded to all the e-mails that I had received thus far around missing invitations. I'll likely go through the next batch when I'm back in the office tomorrow.

how I can send an email cliff, I would like to receive an invitation to update my phone

tanks

Hey Cliff,

I've updated the above.

Invitations have now been sent out to all countries to developers who were registered on App Hub and verified, as of June 28th. The next wave of invitations will go out on Thursday to developers that have registered (and been vetted) since then - this will include developers and students.

Thanks Cliff.  Should have known it was the standard business email setup at most companies.

Cliff,
  An insight to being able to actually test the apps on the phone. I installed Mango and all of the SDKs, but when I try to run the app for VS2010 to the "Windows Phone Device" I get the standard
"Error 1 Failed to connect to device as it is developer locked. For details on developer unlock, visit http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=195284."
My phone is registered for the developer unlock (since I would not have been able to install Mango if it wasn't), so what am I missing to be able to actually test my WP7.1 apps on my development phone?

Rich

You should ask this question in another discussion, as this discussion says "non-technical".

The answer is, however, I believe you didn't re-unlock the phone after installing Mango, since, as stated, it removes the developer lock.

The way I did this is to go to the app hub and remove my phone, then went to the dev unlock tool and ran it.

That's in the instructions.

I hope that helps.

-e

Cliff Simpkins:

I've updated the above.

Invitations have now been sent out to all countries to developers who were registered on App Hub and verified, as of June 28th. The next wave of invitations will go out on Thursday to developers that have registered (and been vetted) since then - this will include developers and students.

Hi Cliff,

I don't receive any invitation anymore, I sent you an email on your Microsoft's address.

Did you see my mail ?

Cordially

Hi Cliff,

@squ

This discussion really isn't for technical question.  Those should be asked in another discussion

the answer is in the Mango update instructions.  Please read them fully and don't skip any steps or take anything for granted.

The only supported way to get the actual Mango release is to restore your backup.  You can't upgrade to anything directly from the Beta.

these details are in the instructions.  Don't lose your backup!

-e

 

 

Hi there,

I'm a huge fan of WP7 and I'd love to be a developer for this amazing platform.

i registered myself as a developer, but unfortunately and because I'm living in Kuwait, i can't get my device registered and developer unlocked.

i received the Mango update invitation yesterday but i can't make use of it.

any idea if there's anyway i can get the update? and start developing apps for WP7?

@Hmoud Adel= how is that happening? i thought they send mango invite only developers from supported countries?! anyway but I have similar issue. my developer account is still pending for approval but i received mango invitation and I am not sure if i can install it now. 

When I sent the invitations, I sent them to all developers who were verification pending and approved. I did this so that folks could install the beta as soon as GeoTrust gives you a green light.

While I understand that this may be a tease, having the invite and not be able to install it (just yet), I was err'ing on the side of not having to make folks wait a couple times. :)

Do folks want me to change this?

Hi Cliff,

when the invitation email arrived in my inbox, it was the best moment in my life! please don't stop it ='D

but in my case, is there a way to get approved?

I'll be thrilled to be the first WP7 devoloper from Kuwait so I'd appreciate it if you can help making this dream happen.

Thank you Cliff.

The best way to answer your question is to point you at the announcement about registration --> http://forums.create.msdn.com/forums/t/86344.aspx

Hope this helps,
Cliff

I have not received my invite to install Mango yet.  Any update as to when I may?