Non-feature locked emulator

Question

I have just found out that the WP7 emulator is feature locked when I was asked to look into sending emails from my app. I know it is possible to access an unlocked ROM but as this isn't sanctioned it is not something I can do. I also do not have a WP7 phone and cannot get hold of one ye as there isn't the funding as yet to buy one.

So when MS release the full release of the SDK will it remain feature locked or will it act more like a proper phone at this point?

Answer 1

There is unlikley to be a "fully featured" emulator released.

You will need to get an actual device for testing so I'd wait on testing this functionality until you have a device. If you know someone who has one you could borrow there's or send them the XAP and ask them to test for you.

Answer 2

I wrote about "unlocking" the latest emulator image in another Question. You cannot unlock it, but you can access most of the internal features / programs. Take a look at this answer: Unlock Windows Phone 7 emulator

Answer 3

Prior to NoDo (and I think perhaps NoDo - don't remember for sure), it was possible, as there was a leaked image. I never did get it to work properly, though. But that is irrelevant now, as with the Mango updates (all of the betas and the RC), it no longer works, and there is no unlocked emulator image out there.