Windows Phone, Xamarin, Azure y otras cosas: Xamarin for Students update in Dreamspark

Ahoj!

I have a Mathematica analysis running on an Azure virtual machine (for my research) and it will take some time to finish, so I decided to write something related with an update of a servce provided by both Microsoft and Xamarin.

It is taking a while...

You know about Microsoft Dreamspark program, right? If you are a student, you can apply to this excellent opportunity in order to get software and services which will help you to develop great applications and learn new technologies for free! Among the free software included in Dreamspark, you can find the latest versions of Visual Studio, SQL Server, and Windows Server. You have also access to several great services at the cost of nothing, such as a Windows Azure account for cloud computing and a Windows Dev Center publisher account in order to publish Windows Phone and Windows 10 apps.

Another service which is offered in Dreamspark is Xamarin for Students. Before this update of the service, you had to submit a Proof of Enrollment to Xamarin and then wait until your submission has been accepted in order to get a 12-month license to the platform (as I pointed out in this post -in Spanish, btw).

However, things have changed now! Xamarin and Microsoft partnership updated the offer included in Dreamspark and now you can start building cross-platform mobile applications with Xamarin and C# immediately, with just a few clicks! In other words, you don't have to wait until the your submission is reviewed by Xamarin because, um, you have already proved to Microsoft that you are a student when you applied for Dreamspark :)

The process is very simple.

1. Sign in to Dreamspark

2. Access the Xamarin for Students offer.

3. Click on Get Xamarin green button.

4. You'll be redirected to the Xamarin Store website. Just fill in the form with the required information in order to complete your purchase with a 100% discount.

Notes: I selected Czech Republic in the Country field and then a VAT/Tax ID field appeared, in which I wrote N/A (just in case it happens the same to you). Moreover, I recommend you not to write any information in the Payment Details section because, well, you are not paying anything)

5. Click on Complete Purchase button and then wait while your order is being processed.

6. Congratulations! You have a free 12-month Xamarin subscription which will be renewed automatically each year while you are a student or have a valid Dreamspark account.