Microsoft Changes Windows Phone 7 App Restrictions

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For regular TFTS readers, it should be old news that Microsoft has some extreme restrictions on Windows Phone 7, from the hardware to the app development. There had been some backlash that Microsoft was not allowing third-party apps to run while the phone’s lock screen was, ahem, locked. But, after much feedback, Microsoft is reversing their decision.

Previously, apps had to ask a user’s permission explicitly before operating under the lock screen. But now, they can do so without permission if they can prove they do not consume excess amounts of battery. Some developers saw this new policy as being fair. Since Microsoft’s own apps (namely the mail, Zune and app downloading apps) were allowed to run while the screen was locked.

“This is an example of us continuing to listen to customers. We think it is a much better experience,” Microsoft’s Charlie Kindel said at a  conference in Seattle. Call us syncs, but we can’t help but wonder if Microsoft’s decision was prompted by antitrust fears (al la, Microsoft’s US Justice Department and EU troubles over Internet Explorer).

Despite this, Windows Phone 7 is still a very controlled platform. We’ve seen developers complain on a number of restrictions, including all apps being “sandboxed” and some bizarre API restrictions. Don’t forget that Microsoft isn’t allowing hardware manufacturers to include user-removable storage too.

If you compare the Fort Knox-like iOS platform and the Wild West Android platform, it seems Microsoft is leaning towards following Apple’s example of a tightly controlled mobile OS.