Three developers have released an application the enables Windows Phone 7 users to circumvent Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows Phone Marketplace and install third-party applications that "otherwise can't be published to the Marketplace, such as those which access private or native APIs," the developers said.

Known as the ChevronWP7, the software is designed to allow any WP7 user to "unlock any WP7 device on the market using a USB cable and just a couple clicks." Out of the box, ChevronWP7 allows up to 10 custom applications to be installed. The software also has a reversible mechanism that allows phones to be relocked with the new software. That might be good news for some enterprise applications.

The developers--Rafael Rivera, Chris Walsh and Long Zheng--said their goal is "to enable and create WP7 homebrew applications that cannot be submitted to the Marketplace in the first place." Plus they want to help developers avoid having to pay Microsoft to obtain access to one's own device.

For more:
- see this InformationWeek article

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