Windows Phone and Nokia may not be on the agenda at Microsoft's BUILD conference, but we've still learned quite a bit about both from the developer event, including some interesting comments on apps from Nokia senior vice president Marco Argenti. 

Developers give Nokia and Windows Phone the thumbs up

Microsoft's BUILD developer conference is all about boosting interest in the developer community for the software giant's new platforms, mainly at this stage revolving around Windows 8 but with a regular nod to Windows Phone 7.5 Mango too.

Leading Nokia executive March Argenti has been in attendance, and has noted his thoughts down from the event on the Nokia developer blog.

He had plenty to say, too, after spending a lot of time not only with Microsoft colleagues but also industry analysts and developers themselves.

“Personally, I’m most excited about what’s new with Metro, and how much momentum Nokia and Microsoft are building together, creating an opportunity for you, here and now,” Argenti wrote.

“'Metro Apps' is being defined as a new application paradigm, more than just an evolution,” he explained. “A paradigm based on gestures, clean interface, fast and fluid experience. Rethinking the Windows experience in a modern way and finding the way to innovate with respect to what’s out there today. And the Metro apps were born on the Windows Phone.”

As we move towards the first Windows Phone appearing, momentum is clearly building. “The rate at which [Windows Phone] apps have been submitted has increased significantly since the announcement of the partnership with Nokia,” Argenti revealed.

“Registration in Nokia developer programs has increased 55 per cent since February 2011 – the single largest increase in membership our program has seen, which can be directly attributed to our partnership with Microsoft.

“I’m expecting to see another inflection point as a result of what we’ve seen at Build, with the Windows developer community being activated and excited about building Metro apps.”

Argenti revealed that Nokia would be starting up hands-on training sessions in six countries to help developers get started on working with Windows Phone on Nokia devices – you can still check out more information and register online, if you're interested.

The experience of attending BUILD and sampling the excitement among developers has clearly affected Argenti. “As I said, I’m excited,” he wrote, “for Nokia, but most importantly for our developer community. This is really cool stuff.”