We’ve been looking forward to the possibility of a release of IM+ for Windows Phone 7 since hearing about it back in April. After all, WP7 still needs a solid multi-protocol instant messaging app. Things were looking good as of this morning, when developer Shape Services announced the app had been submitted to Microsoft for approval, but it looks like all that effort will see a wrench thrown in its works, with Microsoft demanding some annoying restrictions.

Enthusiasm was high at Shape Services this morning. The team was encouraging fans of its software to send in their information to become another beta tester for IM+, just to get their hands on the pre-release version before it passed Microsoft’s app approval process.

This evening, the company confirmed via Facebook that the final version of the app, the one pending approval at the moment, will lack support for Windows Live Messenger, not out of any technical roadblock, but because Microsoft won’t OK such an app. While this sort of pettiness isn’t anything new for Microsoft, or smartphone app stores in general, it’s nonetheless a bummer. Microsoft, if you want people using your software for messaging, make it the best out there. WP7 needs all the quality software it can get; don’t limit what’s available solely out of pride.

Source: Shape Services

Via: WPCentral