Understanding Windows Phone 7 Unlocks

Types of unlocking

For Windows Phone 7 the following levels of unlocking are possible:

1. Developer Unlock: This allows for the installation/sideloading of third-party or homebrew applications.
2. Interop Unlock: This gives further access to areas of your WP7 device that Microsoft has locked down. Applications such as Registry editors, File-explorers, Folders, etc., require this.
3. Rooting: This allows for higher privileges to be granted to applications. To date this is only possible on devices with custom ROMs, or interop unlock.  Dynamic Background and Lock Widgets are examples of applications that require this type of unlock.
4. Full Unlock: This allows for the execution of native EXEs on your WP7 device. This includes things such as the DFT Bluetooth file transfer application.

NB:  The levels of unlocks explained above does not sim-unlock your phone