Microsoft saw 30,000 projects started using its Windows Phone App Studio in the first 48 hours of availability, reports TechCrunch.

Speaking to website Windows Developer Show, Microsoft senior product manager Bryan Tomlinson, said the higher-than-anticipated usage of the tools, means usage had to be throttled with developers waiting a day to access the service.

Announced last week, App Studio is a free, web-based app creation tool intended to make Windows Phone development easier. Tomlinson said App Studio is suited to individuals wanting their first taste of app development or who want to load their lightweight apps onto friends’ phones.

With Microsoft looking to drive the development of more apps for Windows Phone, the fact that so many developers have tested the new set of tools is encouraging.

Late last month, an executive from Nokia said that a lack of apps for Windows Phone was hampering take-up, which is something the computing giant is clearly looking to address.

However, the addition of App Studio does not address the pressing issue of a lack of high-profile apps on Windows Phone.