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Microsoft Outlines Windows Phone 7 Kill Switch

Posted by samzenpus on from the stopped-in-its-tracks dept.

nk497 writes "Microsoft has outlined how it might use the little publicized 'kill switch' in Windows Phone 7 handsets. 'We don't really talk about it publicly because the focus is on testing of apps to make sure they're okay, but in the rare event that we need to, we have the tools to take action,' said Todd Biggs, director of product management for Windows Phone Marketplace. According to Biggs, Microsoft's strict testing of apps when they are submitted for inclusion in Marketplace should minimize kill switch use, but he explained how the company could remove apps from the marketplace or phones, when devices check-in to the system. 'We could unpublish it from the catalog so that it was no longer available, but if it was very rogue then we could remove applications from handsets — we don't want things to go that far, but we could.'"

6 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Before people start in on MS..... by rwven · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_activates_android_kill_switch_zaps_useless_apps.php

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10010070-37.html

    Both Android and the iPhone have kill switches as well.

    Google has actually used theirs.

    1. Re:Before people start in on MS..... by Amouth · · Score: 1, Informative

      So has Apple for NDrive

      --
      '...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
  2. Re:A baffling non sequitor by Code+Master · · Score: 4, Informative
    What he's saying is that if MS tests the apps well enough to prevent bad apps from making it into the marketplace, then they won't need to use the kill switch.

    So they are focusing on their primary line of defense being the acceptance testing.

    --
    The Code Master
  3. Re:Cell phones... Are we missing the "phone"? by SmackTheIgnorant · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sorry, too many thoughts, too much incoherance...
    1 - Phones need more phones. not less apps - just more phone functionality
    2 - kill switch - this "could" go badly, but I'd like to see the history of use... Malicious app - Definitely see the use of it. Pirated app? Unlicensed app? Non-approved app? Patched app? These are more of a "Would they? Just because they can doesn't mean they should or will."

  4. Re:Here's a thought by willda · · Score: 1, Informative

    Okay! I'm not the only nut in the world who thinks that a phone should be just a phone. Signed a stupid old man who will undoubtedly get tagged as flamebait or some such just because he's dumb enough to think that his opinion matters somehow.

  5. Re:NSA Key by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    !seineew era sreenigne enohPi

    Mods: Poster is referring to "Netscape engineers are weenies!", found (typed backwards!) as the password to a vulnerable version of DVWSSR.DLL for Frontpage 98. Really.