Microsoft is to host a Windows Phone 7 (WP7) launch event in Atlanta next month where it promises to take developers “under the hood” of its new mobile operating system. The two-day event is the latest attempt by the software giant to drum-up interest in the developer community for its new platform and revamped ‘Marketplace’ apps store.

The first day of the event will focus on “development scenarios” using the WP7 Software Development Kit (SDK) and other Microsoft tools such as Silverlight and XNA; while day two is described as a “hands-on workshop designed to help you turn those napkin sketches and subway scribbles into real, sellable apps.”

Microsoft is scheduled this week (16 September) to release the final version of its Windows Phone Developer Tools, which had previously been only available in beta mode. Microsoft said recently that there had been more than 300,000 downloads of the beta release by late August. The firm noted that the final release will include some “minor breaking changes” from the beta tools already available. Meanwhile, the WP7 Marketplace apps store is expected to start taking submissions in early October.

Microsoft has gone to great lengths to court the developer community – even reportedly paying developers to make apps for its new platform. However, it has still yet to set a firm launch date for the unveiling of the first commercial WP7-based devices, which are promised to appear before year-end.

The WP7 developer event will take place at the Atlanta Georgia World Congress Convention Center on 21-22 October 2010.