The ChevronWP7 tool, released recently, allows Windows Phone 7 users to sideload applications onto their device without having to pay $99 for the Windows Phone developer program. Quite simply, the tool tricks the OS into registering itself as a development device so that home-brew apps can be sideloaded onto a WP7 phone. Microsoft has responded to the release of this tool, stating:

We anticipated that people would attempt to unlock the phones and explore the underlying operating system. We encourage people to use their Windows Phone as supplied by the manufacturer to ensure the best possible user experience. Attempting to unlock a device could void the warranty, disable phone functionality, interrupt access to Windows Phone 7 services or render the phone permanently unusable.

Well, certainly they are correct: tampering the the underlying software of your phone can render it a brick, especially in the case of an immature smartphone operating system like Windows Phone 7. Tampering with more mature platforms like Android or iPhone is a safer bet, as the development community has had ample time to troubleshoot problems that can arise from unlocking/jailbreaking.

Windows Phone 7 users: have you attempted to use this unlocking tool? Did it work?

Source: WinRumors

Thanks: George S.