Microsoft to Give Xamarin Away for Free

Xamarin, a software suite that provides developers with a single solution to develop, test, and deliver mobile apps across all OSes, will now be included for free with Microsoft Visual Studio, the company announced at its Build Developers Conference in San Francisco today.
There are three versions of Microsoft Visual Studio, including a free Community Edition aimed at indie developers and non-profits, and all three will get Xamarin at no additional cost. Mac users will also be able to get a free standalone community version of Xamarin.
Access to Xamarin means that more developers will be able to write and test their smartphone apps without having to deal with multiple operating systems or programming tools. Xamarin has more than 15,000 customers, including major corporations like Coca Cola and JetBlue, and more than 1.3 million developers have used its technology to create mobile apps.

It works by translating the .NET framework--one of the key building blocks of most PC software programs--to other operating systems. In addition to its translation capabilities, developers appreciate its ability to write an app in multiple operating systems at once.
Microsoft's acquisition of Xamarin last month was a sign that the Windows maker is fully embracing other operating systems, especially Android and iOS. In a keynote address today, Xamarin founder Miguel De Icaza said he was happy to join the Microsoft family.
The announcement during De Icaza's keynote garnered lots of applause from the developer audience. It's too early to tell, of course, but the end result for the app-happy general public could be more releases that are compatible with both Android and iOS at launch, rather than having to wait months for developers to port their work.