Less than two months after it launched its API mapping tools to encourage iPhone developers to bring their titles across to Windows Phone, Microsoft has updated the set up to support Android.

In April, the company used its developer blog to spell out its intentions to back iPhone studios looking to work on Windows Phone.

 

To tools enabled studios to "grab their apps, pick out the iOS API calls, and quickly look up the equivalent classes, methods and notification events in WP7".

Now, the same trick is being pulled off for Android, with Microsoft encourage developers to 'expand their opportunities'.

Eyes on Android

"We've added Android to the Windows Phone API mapping tool to help developers find their way around the Windows Phone platform," Microsoft said on its blog.

"Think of the API mapping tool as being like a translation dictionary. For example, let's say that you're planning a vacation to France. Since you don't speak the language, you’ll bring a pocket travel dictionary.”

Microsoft is also encouraging developers to deliver feedback regarding what mapping the company should cover in the future.

"With this new version including Android, we've also introduced the possibility to add comments directly on the existing mapping," the firm adds.

"So if you want to provide additional details or if you spot something inaccurate, just add a comment, we’re listening."

[source: Microsoft]