Microsoft claims that more than 12,000 Windows Phone 7 (WP7) developers have now registered to market their applications via the vendor’s Windows Phone Marketplace storefront. WP7 developer registration increased close to 40 percent over the last month alone, stated Microsoft. On November 3, Microsoft will also enable self-serve Marketplace capabilities in an effort to enable additional developers to include their apps in the store at launch.

Meanwhile Microsoft’s efforts to improve its status with developers appear to be paying off, to judge from recent comments from Dell CEO, Michael Dell. The head man this week said that application developers are telling Dell it is easier to develop for Microsoft’s WP7 platform than for Google’s Android operating system.