As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage developers to make Windows Phone apps, Microsoft has released a free beta tool called Windows Phone App Studio. Geared for hobbyists or newbie developers, the tool is basically a wizard that relies on pre-made templates to create an app. The tool handles the coding and backend. Once they have created an app, developers can see how it looks on a Windows Phone device and upload it to the Windows Phone Marketplace if they choose.
In addition, Microsoft has also put its mobile developer center registration on sale. Through August 26, a subscription costs just $19.