Teenager Makes Money Writing Windows Phone 7 Apps with AdCenter

Lead developer Johnny Simmons of Simzz Dev describes how he learned to write Windows Phone 7 applications. He learned by watching videos and finding code samples.

Johnny, 13, talks with ISV Architect Evangelist Bruce Kyle about how he got started, and how he makes money through AdCenter. Turns out his most successful apps are the free ones that include advertising.  

His advice for developers, "Don't give up."

The best way to find all the SimzzDev apps is to go to Zune or a phone and type in SimzzDev.

• DrawPad
• DrawPad Pro
• NightClock
• Analog Night Clock
• Random Numbers and Dice
• 7 Tab Browser Free
• 7 Tab Browser Pro
• Chasing Howie
• NBA Schedule
• System Info

Getting Started with Windows Phone 7

Tools are free. Get started on Windows Phone 7 or XBox at App Hub.

See the free developer training course for Windows Phone 7 on Channel 9.

Windows Phone 7 in 7 tutorials on MSDEV. Each short, to-the-point video in this series highlights a feature of Windows Phone 7 in less than 7 minutes. This is a series for developers who want to pick up the basics quickly with brief explanations and hands-on examples. Demonstrations and code samples are based on the beta release of the Windows Phone 7 Developer.

Free Assistance

Join Microsoft Platform Ready for free assistance in developing and marketing your Windows Phone 7 applications.

How to Get Started with AdCenter

1. Download the Ad Control SDK. Download the Ad SDK to build your app and run ads in test mode that requires no on-boarding to try out the Microsoft Advertising SDK for Windows Phone 7.
2. Register your mobile apps on pubCenter. Sign up and register your Windows Phone apps using Microsoft Advertising's solution for Windows Phone 7 publishers and app developers.
3. Implement and Submit. Set the Application Id and Ad Unit Id properties in the Ad Control and submit your ad-enabled app to the Windows Phone marketplace.

Learn more at Monetize your Windows Phone 7 Apps.

Other ISV Videos

For videos on developing for Windows Phone 7, see:

• Talking  with Karmak.com about business applications on Windows Phone 7
• BinaryDads talk about building applications for Windows Phone 7
• Game Design and Development in Silverlight for Windows Phone 7
• Windows Phone 7 Game Begins Life in WPF -- Now a Silverlight,  Ad Supported App
• XNA Game Development on Windows Phone 7 in One Sitting

For videos on Windows Azure Platform, see:

• Azure Email-Enables Lists, Low-Cost Storage for SharePoint
• Crowd-Sourcing Public Sector App for Windows Phone, Azure
• Food Buster Game Achieves Scalability with Windows Azure
• BI Solutions Join On-Premises To Windows Azure Using Star Analytics Command Center
• StorSimple Integrates On-Premises, Cloud Storage with Windows Azure
• NewsGator Moves 3 Million Blog Posts Per Day on Azure

For other videos about independent software vendors (ISVs):

• Quark Extends SharePoint for Dynamic Publishing
• ProModel Adds Simulation, Visualization to Microsoft Project
• Slingbox Maker Sling Media Describes Cross-Platform Commitment to Silverlight
• Thumb-Driven Workflow on Windows 7 Slates from Blue Dot Solutions

Up to Date News for ISVs and Software Developers

See US ISV Community blog.