Microsoft's new mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7, is coming along nicely and should be set for its launch this holiday season.  One thing that the company has gone great lengths to ensure is that the OS will have a good selection of quality apps for users, which is important in this app-obsessed culture we live in.  We've heard rumors that Microsoft has been paying developers and giving out free devices to entice devs to their platform, and now we can confirm those rumors thanks to Microsoft director Todd Brix.  Speaking with BusinessWeek, Brix revealed that Microsoft is giving out all kinds of incentives to bring devs to WP7, including free test handsets, development tools, and even cold, hard cash.  The company has even promised some developers revenue guarantees, stating that they will make up the difference if a developer's apps don't sell as well as expected.

While some may view Microsoft's moves as unethical, there's nothing really wrong with what the company is doing.  With the popularity of Windows and Office, they certainly have the money to entice developers to their platform.  Considering the growing success of competitors like Apple and Google, Microsoft needs to do everything it can to gain a foothold in the mobile space.  With the release of Windows Phone 7 only five and a half months away (at the most), hopefully Microsoft has some grade "A" apps ready for launch to go along with its new OS to compete with the iPhone and the multitude of new Android phones that will surely be released.

Via Engadget, BusinessWeek