Can you install you own apps on your windows 7 phone

Question

I\'m trying to create my own small Windows 7 Phone app. I have downloaded the tools and I\'m writing code. I\'m wondering how I can install my app on my phone? Do I have

Answer 1

The Windows Phone Anti-Piracy model will only allows the phone to run signed apps unless it is unlocked. In order to unlock your phone you have to sign up for a developer account ($99 per year, free for students using DreamSpark) and even then you can only unlock a limited number of phones. Each application requests a license from the AppHub when installed to limit piracy:

During installation, a license that validates execution rights is acquired for the application. The license is issued for the specific device and the specific Windows Live ID account associated with the Marketplace account through which the application was acquired. The license is stored on the device and contains information identifying the actual code delivered as part of the download. When an application is invoked, the loader obtains the license and verifies (a) that the application code matches the application code indicated on the license and (b) that the license specifically allows for running the specific application on the specific device. If the match is successful, then the application is loaded and run on the phone; if no license is matched to the application code, the application invocation fails and the application will not run.

UPDATE 12/1/2010: There is now a 'Jailbreak' called ChevronWP7 that will allow you to unlock your phone and side-load unpublished applications without purchasing a developer account. It uses the same API as the Visual Studio unlock tool, but can support loading more than the limited number of apps that you can side load using Visual Studio. It also allows you to load custom ringtones, however due to the piracy protections listed above it will not let you install applications from the marketplace without first purchasing a license for them.