Lack of backward compatibility for Windows Phone 7 confirmed by Microsoft

We had posted previously about a comment by Maarten Sonneveld of Microsoft Netherlands that appeared to confirm backward compatibility in Windows Phone 7.

Microsoft has now responded to correct the apparent misconception, making it clear that this was indeed not the case.

What Sonneveld originally said was "there is no reason why programs written for Windows Mobile 6 cannot run on the new version of the OS.”

According the Register.com apparently what he meant to say was there was no reason developers could not rewrite their application in .Net and Silverlight, a rather different and ominous message to developers.

Consumerist.com notes Windows Mobile developers are not too happy with this “solution”, and as suggested in our earlier article may suspend development of their current applications until the situation is clearer.

Anthony Wieser of Wieser Software had been working on several applications for the existing Windows Mobile 6.5.

He complains:

"Everything looks different," "It’s difficult to see how existing applications will fit into the new framework."

Charlie Jorgen of Seattle’s Trinket Software believes it’s inevitable that he’ll have to redo all his existing applications for WP7. "I’m surprised there won’t be compatibility and concerned about the rework we’ll have to do," he said.

Will Microsoft’s clean break with the past do more harm than good? Let us know below.